I’m always looking for new insights into mental tools that help us to be more constructive in our approach to work and life.

While reading an article about self-confidence, I was struck by the idea of reframing one’s “less successful” experiences, not judging such events as “failures,” but rather as steps on the way to success.

The writer, West Point psychology professor Carmine Gallo, points out that the secret to improving performance is to “release” our feelings of disappointment or harsh self-judgement.

After all, we all make mistakes or fail to “match our expectations” whether our client presentation fails to impress, or our golf ball lands in the rough.

We need to learn from our mistakes, make note of what worked and what did not, and keep driving ahead towards the ultimate goal.

The “disaster” is just a bump in the road if you see it as incitement to practice (and practice more), as an experiment or as part of an active process in discovering what helps you relax, focus, and feel empowered.