Let me introduce you to the success cycle.  It's easy to let failure overwhelm you but it's much less likely to happen if you consider failure to be part of a bigger system.

Step one: You already did this – Make the best plan that you can and put it in writing.  Consider the resources, help and support needed as well as possible barriers.

Step two: Take action – do something, big or small, to move you towards your goal.

Step three: Party or Ponder.  This is the critical step of the Success Cycle.  If things have gone well celebrate and move forwards.  If things haven't gone well then ponder.  Write down what happened and consider what you or others can do to move things forward.  What do you need to do differently?  How does your thinking need to be different?  How did your feelings affect your outcome?  What needs to change about your attitude or approach?  Do you need more information, resources or support?  Who can help and how?

Step four: Go back to step one and revise your plan in the light of what you learned from Step three.

Apply this success cycle and failure becomes just a stage on the way to your success.  You will continue to move forwards incrementally in steps that are right for you, where you are continually learning on the way.  You will begin to see how failure gives you the potential for grounded and consolidated success; build upon a firm foundation of experimentation and learning.

Finally – balance your learning from failure with celebrating your successes.  The Party step is also essential!  Take a look at my worksheet on focusing on the positive experiences in your life.  Click here to download it.