Failing, Guilt, Regret, and the Fresh Start

July 2nd, 2008
· by Mark Nutting · Filed Under: Fitness and Weight Loss · Personal Training Business

I hear it all of the time. People feel guilty about blowing their diet or feel defeated because they attempted something new and it didn’t work. Whether it’s diet, dating, quitting smoking, or starting your own business, it’s amazing how guilt and feelings of inadequacy can cripple someone’s chances at success.

Everyone slips. It’s natural. It should be expected, but often times it’s not. Then, when you do slip, you feel guilty and defeated for having failed. You think of how you’re a loser. You can’t do anything. So, why bother. Let’s just end the humiliation right here and now.

Guilt and regret are wasteful emotions. They serve no purpose other than to make you feel miserable and stop you from succeeding. Get rid of them. Making a mistake is an opportunity to do better. Learn from it. Plan for it. How could you avoid that particular mistake again? If you have never failed, you have never really challenged yourself and you will never reach your full potential.

The next time you slip up, start again, right then. Even if you’re in the middle of a self-doubt spiral, stop and focus. Ask yourself what’s important. Tell yourself that you can do it. Start again, and again, and again.

A little video about failure…