In her book, “HEALING YOUR DEPRESSION,” Apostle L’Tanya C. Perry, MDiv. wrote, “Too much time spent in the past leads to depression; too much time spent in the future leads to anxiety. Live in the moment.”[1] I love this quote by John Mark Comer. Failure isn’t a final verdict of never being able to make it in life—it’s a revelation of how much you still need to put into what you do. Letting go of the past is like finding a needle in a haystack for many people.
Have you failed in one venture or another? I want you to understand that failure isn’t always a lack of vision or plans, and it’s not a lack of efforts either; it’s a lack of persistency in effort making or deficiency of same. Once hopes are dashed and expectations cut short, frustration sets in, which is the easiest way to fail. We don’t conclude failure when their efforts are going on. Frustration triggers feelings of failure because when frustration sets in, the desire and zeal to get back on your feet are at zero level.
At this point, there is a possibility of regret or self-criticism. You question why you took the step in the first place. You wish you hadtaken a different path; failure makes you forget your zeal and passion before taking the first step. All you see is the failed version with zero hope of rising again.
Too often, failure leads to depression. However, it doesn’t have to go this way. Michael Jordan said, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot, and I missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”[2]
The way you see failure is essential if you must heal from depression. Think about Michael Jordan. To him, failure isn’t a life-altering occurrence. It’s part of the journey to success. People who think this way won’t stay on the ground when they get knocked down. You only fail when your passion dies and you stop trying to achieve your goal.
People who learn to move on in life hardly get trapped in the prison of depression. In life, your outlook determines your reality and results. It’s the same concerning failure and depression. For some, failure leads to depression; for others, it leads to determination and success. Always know that you can transform failure into an advantage. Failure gives you experience and teaches you to avoid previous mistakes.
Since failure cannot be avoided, it must be managed in such a way that produces future success. There’s nothing wrong with taking time off to regroup after a failure. But you must learn to arise from the ashes, being stronger and better. My husband likes wearing t-shirts with statements on them. One of his t-shirts has a powerful phrase stating, “I never lose! I either win or I learn.” Declare today, from now on, this mindset of learning!Micah 7:8 (ESV), “Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.”
Do you want to learn more about how to overcome depression and live a life full of laughter and fulfillment? Then get this life-transforming book, HEALING YOUR DEPRESSION by Apostle L’Tanya C. Perry, MDiv.
[1] https://play.acast.com/s/christianquotesdailyencouragementforchristians/027-john-mark-comer-too-much-time-spent-in-the-past-leads-to-depression-too-much-time-spent-in-the-future-leads-to-anxiety-live-in-the-moment-
[2] 3 Michael Jordan, ‘’I’ve Missed More than 9000 Shots in My Career,” Brainy Quote, accessed December 9, 2021, https:/ /www.brainyquote. com/quotes/michael_jordan_127660.