How to Respond to a Setback With Optimism

Challenges are there to test you. At worst, they delay your success, but problem-solving is one of the many skills that make up a great entrepreneur.

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

Often a setback is a chance to advance your knowledge, see things differently; which can, in turn, result in achieving a goal you’d set yourself sooner than if you were following the original path. You setback becomes the pivotal point that catapults you forward.

Setbacks, like the current economic situation with COVID-19, can do two things – either heighten your motivation to achieve your goals OR allow you to let your goal, business, career dreams fade into the background. 

It’s almost giving you a get out of jail free card.

Which will you choose? 

If you choose to see this setback as an obstacle that needs to be tackled, you can look for all the possible ways you could go through it, under it, over it, or around it. 

Your attitude is postive; your optimistic outlook tells you that you are capable, despite the setback and pushes you forward with determination. 

With a positive mindset, you will look in the right places to seek the answer – listen to an inspiring podcast, look into courses, books, TED Talks to find the answer. Work with a coach, mentor, consultant or industry expert to help you to discover the solution. When you are spiralling in fear and self-doubt, your mind is so clouded that you can’t even work out where you might find inspiration, let alone find the solution.

Tell yourself today…

I look for the silver lining in my challenge, and I view this setback as a positive opportunity for personal growth.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do I automatically view all setbacks as bad? If so, why?
2. When has a setback turned out to bring me something positive, even if at the time I couldn’t see it?
3. Am I optimistic that I can succeed despite the setback?