"When we win, our brains release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, which motivate us to do the same thing again. When we fail, our brains release cortisol, which does not leave us with sentiments of acceptance and safety.

Cortisol is the body's principal stress hormone, and it works with specific sections of your brain to control your "mood, motivation, and fear." It is also renowned for enhancing your fight-or-flight response, which is a psychological reaction in your brain in response to a very stressful or dangerous circumstance. " [*1]

Let’s sweep the brain…

When we fail, our brains go through a complex process, analyzing the situation, regulating our emotions, and determining what to do next. Our negative response to making errors automatically triggers the release of epinephrine (which plays a vital role in fight/flight mode) and acetylcholine (uh-seet-l-koh-leen — a chemical that carries messages to your brain.)

A failure is a universal experience, and how we respond to it determines our growth and resilience.

I'm not suggesting that we don't feel our feelings; I'm suggesting that after we process our emotions, there is value in re-framing failure to an opportunity.

We learn from the outcomes of our actions.

• If you choose to internalize the experience and interpret it as a personal failure, you'll increase the stress response and strengthen your brain's involuntary reactive neural networks. When you train your brain to do this, it becomes your automatic go-to network, making the brain less successful in regulating your emotions and your problem-solving abilities. The negative self-talk becomes a subconscious habit.

• If you mindfully label the outcome as a new door of opportunity (releasing dopamine - a feel-good chemical that increases your neuroplasticity). Your brain will be more likely to succeed, improve outcomes, and ultimately lead to positive change. Errors lead to learning. This option increases motivation and resilience when things don't go as expected.

Failure enhances our brains!

You can train your brain to see the gifts and opportunities in the situations you experience.

"Errors are the gateway of plasticity," Andrew Huberman.

Remember:

• You are a human. We all make mistakes.

• Feeling and acknowledging feelings is a normal part of the process.

• Successful people fail. They can only find success through the gifts and opportunities of trying something new.

• Looking for the gifts and opportunities in things that don't go as expected improves our mood, our experience and future success!

• What some may call a failure, could become a billion-dollar product!

Determining something has been a failure is subjective. Your definition will likely differ from your colleagues, friends, and family.

The most successful individuals swiftly rise after stumbling, brushing off setbacks, and taking action.

Success and failure are a matter of perspective. Which one do you choose to align with?

Are you ready for support in building a business you are proud of?

A place for my digressions.

[*1] Neuroscience of Failure

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