WHAT IS FAILURE ?

“It’s just a push to move forward.”

WHAT IS DISAPPOINTMENT ?

“It’s why you get that push.”

A series of disappointments and failures has shaped my journey.

From abandoning sports and art in school to focus on academics, to working diligently as an employee only to be exploited, leave, and remain unpaid, I’ve experienced my fair share.

Sound familiar?

I’m sure many of you are silently nodding, or perhaps thinking, ‘Not exactly, but I can relate.‘

It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions: anger, frustration, and even fleeting thoughts of revenge (though I’m not one to act on them). But I always end up calming down, believing everything happens for a reason, and trying to find that reason so I can move on.

I gave up sports, but now I work out a lot. For art, I joined the art society in college, and now I’m an artist, video editor, and storyteller. After being an employee, I’ve been my own boss for nearly two years.

But, when things start going well, another disappointment shows up.

Recently, I had my usual events and exhibitions, and they were going great (check my last blog). Then, I joined another event, and I was excited about getting noticed and trying something new.

But, you know, disappointment shows up to give you that push.

This two-day event became my lesson.

Day one was a disaster!

Everything felt wrong: the weather, the event, my stall, the people, my mood, everything! I felt angry, frustrated, and anxious.

But, I’m kind of stubborn about finding the reason behind things. So, instead of succumbing to these emotions, I decided to approach day two with a fresh perspective.

I told myself, “Whatever happens, I’m staying calm and enjoying the day.“

And you know what?

Day two was much better! While my stall didn’t meet my expectations, the event ended on a peaceful note.

I’m sharing this because I learned some things about dealing with failure.

So as a friend, here’s some advice from me to you:

• A calm mind is like a magnet. If you stay calm, you’ll see things differently.
• A stressed-out brain is friends with fear. It brings all the negative feelings.
• Worrying too much about results is tiring. Just do your best and let go of the rest.
• Stop expecting so much and start experiencing more. You can control your effort, not the outcome.

These are the lessons from my last event. It feels like déjà vu, as I often find myself battling negative emotions until my overthinking brain intervenes, steering me back to sanity.

Hope you enjoy your failures and keep moving forward.

Cheers!

Thank you so much for reading.

Lots of Love,

Thoughtpotarts