Recently, I’ve been reflecting on various aspects of a positive mental state and the factors that influence it. As I delved deeper into my own experiences and the journey I’ve taken, I came to a significant realization about how my views on failure and rejection have shaped up over the years, stemming from my early experiences.
Growing up in a typical Asian culture of high competition and constant comparison, the notion that there is no room for failure or rejection became deeply ingrained in my mindset. While this attitude can propel you toward success and help you become a high achiever, it can also lead to a rigid and narrow perspective that makes it difficult to appreciate the value of failure. Failure is often portrayed negatively from a young age; for instance, many of us experience physical punishment or harsh verbal criticism from our parents for not achieving high grades in school. This creates an environment where we react with fear, anxiety, and disappointment, responses that linger not only into adulthood but throughout our lives.
That’s why many of us struggle to deal with failure and rejection. Very few view failure as a stepping stone to greater achievements in life. Instead, many respond negatively by denying their setbacks and escaping the harsh reality through temporary distractions, criticizing others, or, in the most devastating cases, resorting to self-harm or suicide.
My focus here is on addressing mistakes without pointing fingers or getting upset over spilled milk. Instead, I aim to teach them how to manage the situation so that next time they feel confident to clean up the mess rather than shy away in fear. Similarly, in life, I believe it’s perfectly normal to stumble, face rejection, or even fail an exam as long as we take those experiences to heart and learn from them. It’s all about bouncing back rather than letting those setbacks weigh us down.
I’m not here to serve as a success metric for you all, nor am I a motivational speaker dishing out tips to help you cope with failures and rejections. Instead, I’d like to share some insights that resonated with me during a tough time in my life. These words came from Mr. Tsunekazu Ishihara, the CEO of the Pokémon Company, during a Q&A session at the Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) conference. When asked how he handles failure, his response shifted my perspective entirely. He conveyed that he never sees an unsuccessful attempt as a failure; to him, it’s merely a stepping stone for learning and improving for the next try, and the many tries that follow. This outlook inspired me to rethink how I approach setbacks.
This mindset totally fascinated me; maybe that’s the reason why Pikachu is so huge and popular. I realized that a really successful person consistently maintains a dedicated, resilient mindset that turns setbacks into stepping stones rather than giving up. Ever since, I have tried to imbibe this mindset.
My perspective on failure and rejection has really evolved! Looking back on those difficult moments in my life, I see how they’ve shaped my understanding of myself, highlighting my strengths and weaknesses and revealing my overall resilience. I’ll be honest; I still struggle to see every setback as an opportunity to demonstrate my determination, and I sometimes feel weighed down in these situations. However, I genuinely believe that winners succeed because they’ve already confronted and prepared for setbacks on their journey. Speaking of winners and losers, it brings to mind the FIFA World Cup final! Which team are you rooting for, and who do you think will walk away with the trophy?
Absolutely! While I may not consistently follow the strict routines of athletes, I have great admiration for their resilience, endurance, and unwavering dedication. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! How do you bounce back from setbacks and rejection? Please share your insights. My goal is to shift our perspective on these challenges and their impact on mental health. Let’s engage in this conversation and support one another in creating a positive change! Your feedback is truly welcome.
Thank you, tack, Tashi Delek
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