It’s been many years since I watched the movie Forrest Gump, but I clearly remember him saying “Life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get”.

A box of chocolates has many assorted flavors, there are some that are soft and creamy (my personal favorite), some hard and chewy, and some that are nutty.  We may not like all of the chocolates that are in the box, but we have to accept what we are given.

There are many different words to express how we feel when we don’t get what we want, or when things don’t happen the way we plan.   Some people may say they have failed, while others merely call it a setback, a stumbling block or just an unfortunate detour.

Whichever way you look at it, these are the road bumps of life.  Just imagine how poorly equipped we would be if everything always went smoothly and according to plan – the first time we hit a rough patch and we’d probably be carried off in a strait jacket.

Have you ever seen the hands of a manual worker?  On his palms are thick areas of callused skin from the daily graft.  These calluses have formed because of the hard work he has previously done and so that the next time he goes to work, his hands will be well prepared for the job.

Setbacks can be used to make us function in the same way.

One situation where people can experience setbacks in a BIG way is when first starting an online business… Oh, the stories I could personally tell you!

As the going gets tougher, we are compelled to dig in our heels and work harder – or, are we?

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case – some people think that they have failed and decide to give up. This is a shame as with the correct help they could easily have bounced back.

It’s easy to let setbacks beat us down until we feel we don’t want to try anymore.  It can be hard to make it alone – which is why having someone else along for the ride can help to soften the road bumps and keep us moving in a positive direction.

The buddy system is an excellent way to overcome setbacks – this can be a friend, family member, personal coach or mentor.  Their job is to be a sounding board for you.  When required, they can offer good advice and much needed support to get you back on track.  This person is your counterbalance  when life threatens to tip one way or another.

Learn to use your setbacks as valuable lessons – put them in their proper perspective.  Maybe you lost this race because you didn’t put in enough practice?  This just calls for more practice.  Always learn from your experiences – good and bad – and never be afraid to ask for tips or advice… even from your fellow racers.

Look for the positives in any setbacks you encounter.  Make a list of each setback – with its positives and negatives – in your daily journal.

Giving up does NOT make you feel good!

Don’t waste all those valuable experiences – dust yourself down and get back in that saddle as soon as possible.  This is the key to regaining your confidence and giving you the will to try again.

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