Failure doesn’t feel good — even when we know it’s necessary. But what if it didn’t have to feel so personal? I’ve learned that most of the time, people barely notice when we mess up. They’re too busy worrying about their own stuff. That frees us. Failure becomes less of a spotlight and more of a stepping stone. It’s a sign you’re trying, experimenting, growing. This activity is a space to sit with it honestly, learn from it, and let it move you forward.

Activity: Reframe a Failure

A five-step check-in to shift your perspective, find the lesson, and release the pressure.

1. What happened?
Name a recent failure or disappointment. Be specific. No drama, no gloss — just facts.

2. What did it bring up?
Write down how it made you feel: embarrassed, disappointed, relieved, frustrated? You’re human — name it all.

3. What did it teach you?
What do you now know that you didn’t before? What might you do differently next time?

4. What still matters?
Failure often shows us what still matters — the core idea, the values, the thing that made us try in the first place. Write down what still feels worth pursuing.

5. What’s your next step?
Now that you’ve faced it, what will you do next? You can try again, change direction, or leave it behind — but make the choice yours.

6. Let it go
You’ve done the work. Now let it go. The next thing is waiting.