In life, sometimes you win. But sometimes you get knocked down. The difficulty lies in the ability to rise after taking those hits. Winning creates a cycle of confidence while loss is so devastating. It creates a huge gap that entraps.  Here are eleven traps that people fall into after losing:  

• The mistake trap: I’m afraid of doing something wrong, “losses hold us back”

 • The fatigue trap: “I’m tired of trying.  Losses wear us out  

• The comparison trap: “someone else is better qualified than I am” losses cause us to feel inferior to others.

 • The timing trap:” this isn’t the right time” losses make us hesitate.  The inspiration trap: “I don’t feel like doing it right now. Losses demotivate us.

 • The rationalization trap:” maybe it’s really not important” losses allow us lose perspective.

 • The perfection trap: there is a best way to do it and I have to find it before I start.

 • The expectation trap:” I thought it will be easy but it’s isn’t” losses highlight difficulties.

 • The fairness trap: “why me” I shouldn’t have to be the one to do this.  

• The public opinion trap: ” if I fail, what will others think Losses paralyzes us.

 • The self-image trap: if I fail at this, it means I am a failure.  All these traps are caused by losses, and all of them create a gap between knowing and doing. If we want to be successful, we need to bridge the gap.  

Adapted from “HOW SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WIN” by John C. Maxwell  

 Boyi Japheth Apaji