In every endeavor that matters you will have disappointments. You won’t get into your first choice college. Promotions will go to someone else. Holes the size of semi-trucks pop up in plans that seemed foolproof.
The question becomes what to do after. After you wrestle with the sadness and the feelings of failure. After you take a moment to realize that, as much as you may want to beat yourself up, this is not a personal referendum on you. And as much as your brain may want you to feel bad about yourself it is not helpful and you deserve the kindness you would give anyone else.
So wallow for a while, but not to long. Reflect on what happened and the part you played, but realize that there were other factors outside your control as well. Figuring out what’s next after a disappointment says as much about you as what you do after a success.
Notes For Kevin 