Success and failure look different for everyone. However, there is a specific set of habits and a certain type of mindset that fuel long-term failure. And if you continue to do the following 7 things- there is likely no saving you.
But, if you can break free from your failed patterns and bad habits, you might find redemption. With that being said, it’s never too late to change course. And by acknowledging that your current pattern isn’t working, you take the first steps towards success. Check out the following 7 ways to fail in life and if you notice that any of these sounds like you, it’s time to make a change.
1. Lacking discipline.
Without discipline, there is no hope for success. There will be times along your journey that you will have to do things that are right or good that don’t benefit you at that moment. You may have to tolerate pain in your present and push through discomfort- and without discipline, you will stand no chance.
2. Playing the victim.
A victim mentality will not get you anywhere in life. Instead, try to harness your inner survivor. If you sit around wallowing in sorrow about every single person, place, or thing that wronged you- you will give your power away, and ultimately fail.
3. Not believing in yourself.
Every single action you take starts inside your mind. And in order to be effective in your actions- you must believe you are capable enough to execute them properly. Without believing in yourself, you undermine your efforts to succeed.
4. Lacking persistence.
Succeeding doesn’t come from doing everything perfectly the first time you try. It involves trying, failing, getting back up, changing what doesn’t work with a new approach, trying again, failing, rinse, lather, and repeat until you achieve success. If you can’t continue to get back up and approach your goals with a new perspective until you find the right one- you will fail in life. If you persist in your journey towards success, you will eventually find success.
5. Fear of failure.
Failure is necessary for success. When we work towards something and fail, we take an important step in the right direction and can move forward to try something else until we find what works. Success is a learning curve and failure is your lesson plan. As long as you stay persistent and don’t give up- your goals are yours for the taking.
6. Not admitting when you are wrong.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
If you are unable to admit that you are wrong, you won’t be able to move past your failures. In order to overcome failure- you must see that you are wrong, correct yourself and move forward. And if every time you fail you insist that you are right, you will be stuck right there on your journey in a stage of failure.
7. Not taking care of your health.
No matter how much effort you put into being successful, if you don’t take care of yourself and of your health, you are setting yourself up to fail. When asked what surprised him the most about humanity, the Dalai Lama said,
“Man.
Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then his is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present;
the result being that he does not live in the present or the future;
he lives as if he is never going to die, and the dies having never
really lived.”