{"id":617,"date":"2021-10-03T11:38:48","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T11:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/?p=617"},"modified":"2022-01-27T08:04:16","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T08:04:16","slug":"feeling-defeated-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeling Defeated in Life? 6 Core Reasons and How to Cope"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are you feeling defeated, like you have failed in life? Sometimes life beats us down, and every one of us has their portion of setbacks to endure. What matters is to learn valuable lessons from failure and keep trying no matter what.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #222222;color:#222222\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #222222;color:#222222\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#Why_do_I_feel_defeated_6_reasons\" title=\"Why do I feel defeated? 6 reasons\">Why do I feel defeated? 6 reasons<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#1_You_struggle_with_facing_failure\" title=\"1. You struggle with facing failure\">1. You struggle with facing failure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#2_You_compare_yourself_to_others\" title=\"2. You compare yourself to others\">2. You compare yourself to others<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#3_You_are_going_through_a_crisis\" title=\"3. You are going through a crisis\">3. You are going through a crisis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#4_You_feel_not_good_enough\" title=\"4. You feel not good enough\">4. You feel not good enough<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#5_You_have_too_high_expectations\" title=\"5. You have too high expectations\">5. You have too high expectations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#6_Youve_been_chasing_wrong_goals\" title=\"6. You\u2019ve been chasing wrong goals\">6. You\u2019ve been chasing wrong goals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#What_to_do_when_you_feel_defeated\" title=\"What to do when you feel defeated?\">What to do when you feel defeated?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#1_Learn_from_failure\" title=\"1. Learn from failure\">1. Learn from failure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#2_Celebrate_your_past_achievements\" title=\"2. Celebrate your past achievements\">2. Celebrate your past achievements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#3_Instead_of_comparing_yourself_to_successful_people_get_inspired_by_them\" title=\"3. Instead of comparing yourself to successful people, get inspired by them\">3. Instead of comparing yourself to successful people, get inspired by them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/#4_Re-evaluate_your_goals_and_expectations\" title=\"4. Re-evaluate your goals and expectations\">4. Re-evaluate your goals and expectations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_I_feel_defeated_6_reasons\"><\/span>Why do I feel defeated? 6 reasons<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you have been feeling discouraged and beaten down lately, first of all, you need to understand the reason why.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_You_struggle_with_facing_failure\"><\/span>1. You struggle with facing failure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The most obvious cause of feeling defeated is going through a difficult time. You might have been denied a promotion or have lost your job. Your business might be doing worse, and you keep wondering whether it will survive these hard times.<\/p>\n<p>When you put a great deal of effort and time into something you do, it\u2019s natural to <strong>feel disappointed when things don\u2019t go as expected<\/strong>. It\u2019s so frustrating to see the results of your hard work getting lost due to an economic crisis or a strategic mistake.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to feel like a loser in a situation like this, especially if other people and businesses in your area are doing fine. Learning from failure takes wisdom and patience.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_You_compare_yourself_to_others\"><\/span>2. You compare yourself to others<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It could also be that the situation is not as severe as you think. You might waste too much time <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/stop-comparing-yourself-to-others\/\">comparing yourself to others<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps you feel bitter when you see how your co-workers get a promotion while you stay behind. Or you watch other business owners successfully adjusting to the crisis while your sales are dropping desperately.<\/p>\n<p>You may be wondering, \u201c<em>What do these people have that I lack? What am I doing wrong? Why are they more successful than I am?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maybe you also believe that it\u2019s utterly unfair that you are beaten down by life while others are thriving. In any case, you have fallen victim to<strong> unhealthy comparisons<\/strong>, which is a more counter-productive habit than it may seem.<\/p>\n<p>Not only does it leave you feeling defeated, but it also steals your time and energy.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_You_are_going_through_a_crisis\"><\/span>3. You are going through a crisis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>We encounter moments of crisis at different points in our lives. Whether it\u2019s a transition from adolescence to adulthood or a mid-life crisis, these turning points often make us feel like <strong>everything is falling apart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s during these moments that we often feel like we haven\u2019t done enough. Like we should have tried harder and could have accomplished more. This is when we start wondering whether our whole life is a failure.<\/p>\n<p>If you are feeling beaten down, it could be that you are going through a <strong>quarter-life or mid-life crisis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have a feeling that your peers are succeeding while you stay behind? Or that you should have achieved more at your age? Or that you have wasted too much time on the wrong things and now life is passing you by?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_You_feel_not_good_enough\"><\/span>4. You feel not good enough<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-437\" src=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/not-feeling-good-enough.jpg\" alt=\"not feeling good enough\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/not-feeling-good-enough.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/not-feeling-good-enough-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/not-feeling-good-enough-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/not-feeling-good-enough-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Insecurity can easily <strong>trick you into feeling like a failure<\/strong>. Self-esteem issues impair the way you view yourself and your achievements. You often get self-critical and too hard on yourself.<\/p>\n<p>You see your whole life in a negative light and neglect your accomplishments and strong qualities. Maybe you are an insecure perfectionist and are haunted by the feeling that whatever you do, it is not enough. <em>You are not enough<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Among others, self-criticism and low self-esteem can also prompt you to compare yourself to others. You feel like no matter how much you try, you can never catch up with other people.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_You_have_too_high_expectations\"><\/span>5. You have too high expectations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s great to set your bar high and strive for greatness. But the point is to <strong>stay realistic<\/strong>. Unnecessary perfectionism and unattainable goals can only lead you to disappointment.<\/p>\n<p>High expectations may stem from many sources \u2013 from too demanding parents to your own perfectionism. They make you chase unrealistic goals and set you for feeling defeated, discouraged, and <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/not-feeling-good-enough\/\">not good enough<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Think about it \u2013 maybe you have set too high goals for yourself.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Youve_been_chasing_wrong_goals\"><\/span>6. You\u2019ve been chasing wrong goals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-772 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-away-from-yourself.jpg\" alt=\"chasing the wrong goals\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-away-from-yourself.jpg 700w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-away-from-yourself-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/running-away-from-yourself-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Finally, you might feel defeated because you\u2019ve been <strong>pursuing the wrong goals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>We often go after someone else\u2019s idea of success without even realizing it. From our parents\u2019 expectations to peer pressure and social conditioning \u2013 all these things shape our perceptions in many ways. Among others, they affect our idea of what we want from life.<\/p>\n<p>Some people choose a career based solely on what their parents want for them or what is considered prestigious in today\u2019s society.<\/p>\n<p>That could be the reason you are wondering <strong>why you feel discouraged and have no motivation<\/strong> to move forward and strive for greater career achievements. You could also feel like you are not doing enough to succeed.<\/p>\n<p>In reality, the questions you should be asking yourself are: <em>\u201cIs it what I really want? Is it <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/personality\/jobs-for-introverts-with-anxiety\/\">the right job for me<\/a>? Does this career bring me fulfillment and a sense of meaning?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_when_you_feel_defeated\"><\/span>What to do when you feel defeated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-452\" src=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/why-do-i-feel-like-i-dont-belong-anywhere.jpg\" alt=\"why do i feel like i dont belong anywhere\" width=\"1200\" height=\"792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/why-do-i-feel-like-i-dont-belong-anywhere.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/why-do-i-feel-like-i-dont-belong-anywhere-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/why-do-i-feel-like-i-dont-belong-anywhere-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/why-do-i-feel-like-i-dont-belong-anywhere-768x507.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you face failure, it&#8217;s easy to feel beaten down. It&#8217;s easy to lose hope and motivation. But all it takes is to change your focus so that you can turn defeat into a valuable learning experience.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Learn_from_failure\"><\/span>1. Learn from failure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote><p>Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.<\/p>\n<p>-Og Mandino<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This quote reminds us that <strong>feeling defeated is not a reason to quit<\/strong>. Instead, we should use failure as a lesson. No matter how paradoxical it sounds, defeat can be a strong driving force towards success.<\/p>\n<p>You did something wrong and you failed. It\u2019s an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and try once again, striving for better results.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of dwelling on failure, use it as a valuable experience that can teach you important lessons. Think about the situation that has left you feeling beaten down.<\/p>\n<p><em>What can you learn from it and how can you use this experience to do things better next time?<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Celebrate_your_past_achievements\"><\/span>2. Celebrate your past achievements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This mental exercise works wonders for me when I feel defeated. I recall my past achievements and relive moments of triumph in my mind. I try to recall those memories in detail and experience those emotions in all their glory.<\/p>\n<p>Try it next time when you feel beaten down. <strong>Celebrating your achievements<\/strong> will help you realize that failure doesn\u2019t last forever and you will have more moments of success in the future.<\/p>\n<p>It would be great if you could turn it into a <strong>meditation session<\/strong>. Take a comfortable sitting position, close your eyes, and recall a memory of your past success. Try to relive it and feel all those strong positive emotions you experienced at the moment of triumph.<\/p>\n<p>Our mind is a wonderful tool. When we imagine or recall a positive feeling, it has the power to affect our current emotional state. So use this power to your advantage and fill yourself with positive emotions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Instead_of_comparing_yourself_to_successful_people_get_inspired_by_them\"><\/span>3. Instead of comparing yourself to successful people, get inspired by them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another great way to cope when you feel defeated is to<strong> read a motivational success story<\/strong>. It would be great if you could find a story from someone who works in the same area as you.<\/p>\n<p>Reading about other people who successfully dealt with challenges and reached success charges you with positive energy. The message all success stories convey is: <em>\u201cYou can do it too! We all can do it!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Learning from others\u2019 success is very different from <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/quotes-about-comparing-yourself-to-others\/\">comparing yourself to them<\/a>. When you compare yourself to those around you, you feel bitter, envious, and inadequate. This habit can only leave you feeling even more discouraged and defeated.<\/p>\n<p>But when you read an inspirational success story, it does exactly the opposite thing. It encourages <strong>motivation, positive thinking, and self-belief<\/strong>. So instead of comparing yourself to more successful people in your field, use their stories as a source of inspiration.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Re-evaluate_your_goals_and_expectations\"><\/span>4. Re-evaluate your goals and expectations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote><p>When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.<\/p>\n<p>-Napoleon Hill<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This is another deep quote that inspires us to <strong>turn the experience of feeling defeated into a lesson<\/strong>. Sometimes failure is a sign that you should reconsider your plans, goals, and expectations.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes it can also indicate that you are walking the wrong path in life. But even if it\u2019s not the case, you can regard failure as a source of motivation to reconsider your strategy or attitude.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, think about <strong>the factors that led you to defeat<\/strong>. Could it be that some of your goals or expectations are unrealistic or imposed from the outside? Do you feel discouraged because you are chasing unattainable ideals? What if life beats you down over and over again because what you do is not right for you?<\/p>\n<p>To sum up, don\u2019t dwell on failure and negative emotions when you feel defeated. Failure is not a reason to give up or feel like you are not good enough. Instead, try to view the situation from a different angle and learn lessons from it.<\/p>\n<p>After all, negative experiences are the best teachers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you feeling defeated, like you have failed in life? Sometimes life beats us down, and every one of us has their portion of setbacks to endure. What matters is to learn valuable lessons from failure and keep trying no matter what. Why do I feel defeated? 6 reasons If you have been feeling discouraged &#8230; <a title=\"Feeling Defeated in Life? 6 Core Reasons and How to Cope\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-defeated-in-life\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Feeling Defeated in Life? 6 Core Reasons and How to Cope\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[24],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=617"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":830,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/617\/revisions\/830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}