We’ve all uttered that phrase. It usually comes after a catastrophe, conflict or correction. Maybe you blew it on a project you volunteered to lead. I’LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!
It could be that you decided it was time to reach an outstretched hand across the fence to make peace with someone you are at odds with, and not only did their dog bite you, the person bit you too. I’LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!
You might have found yourself on the “rear end” of the butt chewing that took place with your supervisor, your spouse or your customer. You tried your best to please and to perform, but to no avail. I’LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!
Trust me, I understand. No one likes to walk across the field where they’ve encountered land mines before. We get burnt, bruised and bullied until there is no fight left in us. It seems much easier to avoid the conflicts or evade the battle than to try again.
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.
Henry Ford
So why should you consider trying again?
- Conflict doesn’t equal failure. Sometimes the person complaining is just plain wrong.
- You get better every time you try. Don’t let fear rob you of the growth you could own.
- No one… I repeat NO ONE has the right to kill your dreams or attack your personhood.
- The only one who truly determines if you are a failure is YOU… and that only happens when you quit.
- Progress and growth happen every single time you try again. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
- Life is too short to focus on old failures when new adventures are on your horizon.
Trying again is not easy, that’s for sure. The road of least resistance will always seem like the safest and easiest path to take after a “crash and burn” experience in your life. But don’t allow the condemning, critical voices of the world or in your head rob you of the next leg of your adventure!
Sometimes those voices of doubt, condemnation, fear and insecurity are shouting loud and shrill. You may even be your own worst critic. However, you know you need to try again. What do you do next?
How do you try again?
- Take the time to lick your wounds. If you need time to heal mentally or emotionally, then take the time.
- Give thoughtful consideration to the problems you had. There may be nuggets of truth, both large and small.
- Make notes of the ways you could improve next time. Don’t waste the learning opportunity in front of you.
- Seek wise counsel about how you can avoid the same failure or problems.
- Seek out others who have had challenges similar to yours, and how they were able to bounce back.
Listen… if someone promised you LIFE was going to be easy… whether it was regarding your job, your relationships, your journey… let me make it simple for you. THEY LIED. Whether they meant to lie or not is irrelevant. Life is hard.
Decide to try again. Make a plan. Summon your courage and steel your nerve. Take a breath. Now go do it.
TRY AGAIN.
