What you can learn from my failure

Let me tell you two stories about failure.

This February, I planned to do two vision board workshops. I was super excited about it because I love making vision boards and believe in their power to manifest all that I desire. Despite my excitement (and marketing efforts), only two people signed up—one for each date. I ended up canceling the event and giving refunds.

Two years ago, I launched a Sunday Night Journal self-care kit. It included all the ingredients you needed to make a delightful cup of tea so you can sip and write at the same time. The kit was beautifully packaged—with handmade tea and mug and a strainer. It was truly a special box. What wasn’t so special: not a single box was sold. Not one.

There was no reframing these stories. These two projects were not a success. I had failed.

I started to doubt myself, my ideas, my path. Do I even know what I’m doing? Do people like what I create? Do people even like me?

Even if I couldn’t reframe the stories, I could reframe my response to them.

I started by being gentle on myself. I gave myself permission to do what I wanted and yes, even to wallow a little in my self-doubt.

I asked myself what I had learned and what I could have done better. (This is what I learned: To incorporate vision board-making as part of a bigger workshop and to be confident that The Sunday Night Journal had so much value as a self-care practice that it didn’t need other things to make it more powerful or wonderful than it already was. I also learned a lesson in pricing.)

I reminded myself that even if some projects failed, it didn’t mean that I was a failure. I remembered all that I had already achieved.

I went to my inbox folder marked “Feel good notes” and reread again what my clients have said about working with me.

One of my favorite quotes, commonly attributed to Winston Churchill, also brought me some peace: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

I hope some of these tools are helpful when you find yourself losing confidence or courage. Failure will come. Setbacks will happen. Challenges will emerge. When they do, ask yourself: Am I willing to continue to stretch in the direction of my dreams or will I be limited by my fear or self-doubt?

Keep going.

I believe in you.

I know you can.