"Help me recover from a setback!"

We’ve all felt the sting of disappointment after falling short. But beating ourselves up only hurts more. Here, expert ways to rebound—fast

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Let go of blame

Acknowledge the hurt 

It’s important to accept often conflicting feelings, says expert Katherine Bracken, Ph.D. “For example, you may feel hurt and anger, or regret and relief, if part of you is ambivalent about the goals you set.” Though your emotions may seem contradictory at first, they’re all valid. Taking a moment to acknowledge everything you feel will deepen your understanding of yourself so you can begin to problem-solve.

Be kind to you 

Self-compassion boosts resilience by increasing your motivation, says expert Tracy Hutchinson, Ph.D. “Tap into the idea of ‘common humanity’ by reminding yourself that everyone stumbles. Self-compassion lets us be realistic about challenges while also seeing the potential in those roadblocks because they may steer us onto a better path.”