Experience has taught me, that to suffer some anxiety, some stress, some low moods or depression, some disappointment, or even some failure is 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍.

Let me repeat that…. 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋!

Everyone fails.

Everyone.

Everyone has bad things happen to them at some point.

Every now and then, a really good miserable day, or even a few of them may come along all at once, lined up perfectly all in a row, day after day!

Maybe you have felt days like that?

Doomed to failure.

Defeated, lost, discouraged, possibly even feelings of shame and inferiority may arise…

You may even choose to prolong the agony by engaging in some mental torture, relentless self-criticism, beating yourself up and continually berating yourself.

When we feel like this, we may even want to hide, to shrivel up or even just disappear.

Have you been there?

It’s easy to be tough on ourselves. Isn’t it!

It is time to change your relationship with failure.

Take a moment…

Breathe.

Think.

Let me assure you, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲…

What would you do to support a friend through a similar difficult period?

By showing ourselves some kindness, respect and encouragement, we can practice self-compassion.

With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend.

“Self-compassion has been defined as a self-attitude that involves treating oneself with warmth and understanding in difficult times and recognizing that making mistakes is part of being human (Neff, 2003)

Realising that things don’t always go the way you want them to, is a reality shared by each and every one of us.

My experience is to see failure as a step closer to success, not a step backwards.

How can you be kinder to yourself?

Think of a time when you failed at something and someone responded with kindness and reassurance…

How did that make you feel?