Don’t let failure get you down.

Perhaps you’re thinking about getting life coach training, but you’re plagued with doubts.  Some of them might sound like this:

“Is this what I really want?”

“Do I have what it takes to be a life coach?”

“Am I old enough?  Do I have enough knowledge/wisdom/degrees?”

… and so forth.  Does the idea of failure or criticism stop you from fulfilling your dream of becoming a transformational life coach? Does the thought of making a mistake, not having a degree, or not being the best hold you back?  Have you failed so many times before, you are certain this failure will keep happening??

Stop for a moment.  Are you your thoughts and fears?  Of course not!  As you’ve no doubt been told hundreds of times, you’re bigger than that.  Mistakes and failure are simply a part of life.  Don’t believe it happens to others?  Ask Col. Harlan Sanders who was over 60 before he made it with his Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe . . . or about authors Martha Mitchell and J.K. Rowling who were both turned down numerous times by publishers before their twin megahits – Gone With The Wind and Harry Potter – shattered all previous sales records!

So where are you on this path?  No matter what you are experiencing now, your ability – or inability – to handle mistakes and failure is critical to your success in life. The reason for this is simple: everybody fails, but not everyone keeps going! Mistakes are a necessary step toward finding your personal road to success. The key is to not let it overwhelm you. Instead, get right back up, learn from the experience, and go for it again. Persistence. It’s the only foolproof way to win.

The idea of failure and criticism used to stop me dead in my tracks. I was a perfectionist at a very young age. Most things came naturally to me as a child, but I inevitably stumbled and struggled just like everyone else. When this happened, I was devastated. I didn’t know how to accept it. I wanted to give up.

Eventually, I learned that there is no such thing as perfection. It’s a matter of perception. What I thought were terrible failures or disastrous mistakes were, in hindsight, entirely acceptable. I simply set the bar too high. Trying to chase perfection only caused me unnecessary stress and, eventually, my performance became worse and worse as I lost motivation. For me, it all boiled down to a desire to be in control. The fact is, we are human, and can’t control everything. Nor should we try. Instead, why not go with the flow and enjoy the journey?

When you begin life coach training, you’ll probably encounter methods and techniques you aren’t quite familiar with. And guess what? You won’t master them immediately. You’ll test and apply them to your own life, learning through trial and error. This is how you gain experience and how you get the most out of your coach training.

Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you’re feeling defeated:

•  Know that failure and mistakes are important stepping stones to success. Stop and ask yourself, “What can I learn from this? How can this help me?” I like to think of mistakes as the Universe giving you golden drops of knowledge and the opportunity for change.
•  Know you’re not alone. I’m sure you’ve read countless stories of successful people who were once in poverty before they hit it big. The only difference between you and them is a decision. Dr. Craig named these innate drives the Seed of Failure and the Seed of Success. We all have both, but which one is stronger depends on your subconscious, hidden decisions that you either inherited, or were given to you early on in life. Access and change those decisions and you change your life.
•  Know that, as long as you’re still trying, you’re succeeding. The only true failure or mistake is giving up on your dream. When you don’t give up, you gain valuable knowledge and experience that will serve you for a lifetime.

What I like about life coach training with the Logical Soul® method is that you learn how to communicate with the subconscious, alter decisions, and unleash the Seed of Success. So, not only do you learn a powerful technique to use in your coaching practice, but you also have the opportunity to transform yourself in the process.

For more invaluable life coaching guidance, check out Dr. Craig’s free special report for coaches.

Don’t forget to tell us about your stories of failure and success.  How do you overcome feelings of defeat, dust yourself off, and keep going? We’d love to know; leave your comments below.