Rising Above: Turning Discouragement into Triumph

Everyone gets discouraged sometimes. The only way to avoid it is to, as Aristotle put it, “say nothing; do nothing; be nothing,” but is that really a viable alternative?

Even highly successful and wealthy people deal with discouragement. They overcome it and turn troubles into triumphs. Want to learn their tricks?

​Below, you’ll discover how to break free from discouraging feelings that can keep you stuck or make you want to quit. Use this guide to continue to rise above discouraging times.

Your journey to overcoming discouragement starts with recognizing that:

Life is a journey of growth and learning. You can’t possibly be perfect on this journey. Mistakes will happen. You’ll make good decisions and poor ones.

Good decisions come from good judgment. Good judgment comes from experience. Experience requires time and learning from poor choices.

​Don’t be so hard on yourself. Cut yourself some slack because you (and everyone else in the world) will make mistakes.

We all know President Theodore Roosevelt’s words, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” ring true, but be honest with yourself–you compare yourself to someone or something (perhaps an imagined version of yourself?).

Learn to recognize when comparisons creep into your thoughts. For example, you may compare your business success to someone else.

​Reframe whatever you tell yourself in your comparison by stating only the facts. For example, you may compare your business success to someone who started years before you did. That’s not a fair comparison, is it?

Most people are wired to desire or expect quick gratification. You want things to go your way right away.

​Recognize that your desire for instant gratification may throw off your expectations. Just because you expected specific results by a particular time doesn’t mean you failed if you didn’t meet that goal. It simply means your estimated timing was off.

Next, see if you can pinpoint one of the common reasons behind feeling discouraged. Getting to the root cause of the problem can help you get rid of it.

​Were you:

Adopt these simple strategies below to overcome discouragement.

Understand that the goal isn't never to feel negative feelings. Negative feelings are healthy and even helpful.

Your goal is to work through negative feelings. Your discouragement means something. It almost always means progress. Think about it; you wouldn't be discouraged if you weren't stepping outside your comfort zone, growing, and striving for goals.

​Acknowledge the feeling without being in such a hurry to shut it down. Trust that it comes on the heels of doing something positive and on the edge of breakthroughs.

Discouragement could be your body's way of telling you it's time to rest. Breakthroughs come when you rest, recharge, and reset.

Step away from the computer, desk, etc. Stop working for a while. This may sound counterintuitive, but consider what you do to a phone or computer when it gets sluggish or glitchy–you shut it down, unplug it, and reboot it. The same works for your human machine (brain and body).

You need both physical and mental rest and recharging. Do something that makes you happy, like visiting friends or family, taking a walk in nature, exercising, or doing something artistic and creative (cooking, drawing, dancing, gardening).

​Like a computer sometimes requires shutting down and restarting to receive updates, you too, need something similar now and then. There's no better time than when you're faced with discouragement.

Clear, actionable goals help you focus and progress in the right direction. Look at your goals. Are they realistic and achievable? Do you need to tweak them? Sometimes, reviewing your goals can renew your sense of purpose and help propel you through tough times.

Shift your mindset. Reframe obstacles as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable barriers. Changing how you perceive challenges can transform negative feelings into motivation.

Celebrate the small victories and progress you’re making. Honoring gradual successes helps build momentum and motivation.

Results are an abstract figure your mind made up and sometimes come from unrealistic expectations. Keep in mind that your desired results are a loose estimate. Instead, focus on the journey and show up. You'll achieve great things before you know it.

Continue learning and improving yourself. Read growth mindset books to keep your brain trained on how to turn discouragement into learning opportunities. Reading can also help you figure out ways to refine your strategies and approaches.

Create and lean into a positive, supportive community. Have trouble connecting in person due to time, location, or personal constraints? Join a virtual community, like the kind you can find in an online book club about success. Virtual book clubs are a fun, accessible way to engage with like-minded individuals who can give you encouragement, accountability, and fresh perspectives.

Though you may find people on similar journeys as you, there’s no way you can compare yourself to them. You all start at different points and face unique stumbling blocks. Step one of your journey couldn’t possibly look like step 100 of theirs, so recognize when you’re unfairly pitting your success against someone else’s.

Take a trip down memory lane. Pull out old photographs, journal entries, or bank statements as proof of where you started from and where you are now. Reconnect with your ‘why.’ It helps to connect to reasons outside yourself rooted in helping others.

Get moving–exercise or take the next best step. Movement helps you build momentum, feel better, and continually progress.

Discouragement is part of life. Allow yourself to rest, recharge, and reset. Then, get back at it! Don’t let anyone keep you from living out your destiny.