So, I’ve discussed failure. Now I want to discuss success. Particularly, I want you to see how you can break out of your failure cycles and instead, use your failures for success. I’ve discovered that success is a habit and a mental process that needs exercised. Also, you need perspective to discern the way to change your failures into avenues for success.

I’ve started to achieve success in different areas of my life that previously I was too scared to try because I’d failed in the past. As I started to look at the processes that helped me to break free from this, I discovered a framework. If I’ve used this framework to get results that I’ve wanted, well, then maybe it will help you discover your own framework or process to get the results you want.

One reason that we don’t achieve the success we desire is because the success cycle is more difficult. Why? Because it takes discipline. Rory Vaden talks about this in his book, “Take the Stairs.” In our culture of microwaves and “get-rich-quick” schemes, it’s no wonder that the people who achieve success and understand their purpose in life are considered by many to be “lucky.”

I believe that the success cycle is very closely tied to the sanctification process that God works in us to produce good fruit for His glory. I believe that our life challenges are designed by God to get us to move in a direction that makes us more like Him. One problem is that when we fail, we often allow negative emotions and thinking to box us in and keep us from moving forward in becoming more like Him. To break this, you must get out of the failure cycle and begin to process your failures differently. You must see them as God’s work to make you more like Him. In which case, you must keep on trying.

So, let’s examine the success cycle. When you fail, the first thing you need to do is evaluate it. Why did you fail? How did you fail? As you answer these questions, ask more questions with growing specificity.

The second thing is to process the answers to your questions and also to seek new information. If you’ve failed at work somehow, find books, or do a simple search online and begin gaining information pertinent to your issue. Or, find someone who is going through or has gone through a similar situation and get his/her advice.

Third, once you have more information and a better perspective on the failure, take action based on your new evaluation and information.

Fourth, this action will either result in another failure, or it will result in a success. If you fail, then keep repeating the steps. However, if you succeed then it results in a new belief that it is possible to succeed.

I have found that the battle is in our thinking and emotions. The sooner we discipline ourselves to manage those two things according to God’s ways, then we will begin to experience the success God has for us in our lives.