What do you do if your failures are hindering your decision-making process?

1 Acknowledge your emotions

Failure can trigger a range of emotions, such as anger, frustration, guilt, shame, or sadness. These emotions are normal and valid, but they can also cloud your thinking and prevent you from seeing the bigger picture. To avoid making rash or impulsive decisions, you need to acknowledge and process your emotions first. You can do this by writing them down, talking to someone you trust, or engaging in a relaxing activity. By doing so, you will release some of the emotional pressure and gain more clarity and perspective.

2 Reframe your failure

Failure is not a sign of your worth or ability, but a feedback mechanism that shows you what works and what doesn't. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of your failure, try to reframe it as a valuable lesson that can help you improve and grow. Ask yourself what you can learn from your failure, what you can do differently next time, and what you can appreciate about yourself and the situation. By reframing your failure, you will shift your mindset from a fixed one that sees failure as a threat, to a growth one that sees failure as an opportunity.

3 Seek constructive feedback

Sometimes, you may not be able to see the root causes of your failure or the best alternatives to solve a problem. In that case, you can benefit from seeking constructive feedback from others who have more experience, knowledge, or insight than you. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, understand different perspectives, and discover new possibilities. However, you need to be open and receptive to feedback, and avoid taking it personally or defensively. You also need to evaluate the source and quality of the feedback, and decide what to apply and what to ignore.

4 Set realistic and specific goals

One of the effects of failure is that it can lower your self-efficacy, which is your belief in your ability to achieve your goals. To restore your self-efficacy and motivation, you need to set realistic and specific goals that are challenging but attainable. Realistic goals are based on your current skills, resources, and circumstances, while specific goals are defined by clear and measurable criteria. By setting realistic and specific goals, you will increase your chances of success, track your progress, and celebrate your achievements.

5 Take action and experiment

The final step to overcome the negative impact of failure on your decision-making process is to take action and experiment. Taking action means that you commit to implementing your decisions and following through with your plans. Experimenting means that you test your assumptions, try different approaches, and learn from the outcomes. By taking action and experimenting, you will overcome your fear of failure, gain more experience and confidence, and discover new opportunities and solutions.