How Do You Come Back After a Loss?

In many ways January is the height of the losing season.  College football games, the NFL Playoffs, and personal reminders about 2013.

After all, that’s where New Year’s Resolutions came from.  Failures or losses from the previous year are acknowledged and drive us into a new year.

Losses.  Sometimes that’s where our focus is.  Losses happen.  If everyone won all the time there would be no inspiration to change.

Many losses sting for a long time.  Whether it’s a championship game or a marital breakup or the loss of a job.

You can’t just shake it off in five minutes or five days or even five months.

Let’s admit it hurts.  But let’s not quit playing.

5 Ways to Comeback After a Loss

1. Expect some horrible days. That’s normal.

2. Don’t take it personally.  Yes, you experienced a loss, but that does not mean you are a loser. Auburn lost the National Championship game.  Trust me.  They are not a bunch of losers.  Neither are you unless you pack it in and quit.

3. You may have to forgive someone.  He missed a tackle, your spouse forgot it was your anniversary, or someone forgot to pick you up from the mechanics.  Forgive and move forward.

4. Lose the guilt.  We spend too much time focusing on what we did to contribute to the loss.  The truth is you alone were likely not responsible for the loss.

5. Get back in the game. Never forget that others are watching. Your kids, your coworkers, and your teammates.  Write down on a piece of paper what you think a winner would do after a devastating defeat.  Then go do that.  You know what to do.

Fascinating. You already know what to do.  You already know the answer to the question, How do you come back after a loss?