Six ways on how to accept and handle defeat

While it is true that accepting defeat could be the hardest thing to do, there are still some ways that you can do to focus your attention on what you can do right next time.

Whether you have joined a contest or rooted for a candidate, we all need to accept defeat, in order for us to move on in our life.

You need to remind yourself that this season shall pass and you need to let go of the things that you cannot change and try your best to be respectful to whomever or whatever has defeated you.

Here are the ways that can help you to handle defeat, according to wikiHow and Huff Post:

1. Let go
You have no choice but to let go of what happened. Know that it is okay to feel angry, disappointed, sad, etc. Before accepting defeat, you must accept and understand your emotions.

Try to consider talking to a trusted family or friend about how you are feeling. Tell yourself that there is no way to "feel wrong". No emotion is inherently good or bad. Take note that there are no wrong emotions, you just need to feel them until you are ready to let go.

2. Change your perspective
After letting yourself feel emotions because of defeat. You now need to change your perspective. This time you need to remind yourself that what has happened has happened and that you cannot change it.

This attitude will allow you to be flexible and adaptable.

3. Be a good sport
No matter how hard it is, always choose to be a good person by showing respect to whomever or whatever has defeated you. Whether you lost a fight, a debate, or a competition, try not to resort to pettiness.

Try to be polite and gracious as possible. You may congratulate them on their win.

4. Don't let the judgment consume you
You cannot control what other people will think of you. If they want to judge your defeat, then let them do so. It doesn't matter, as long as you know who you are, and you don't need to justify yourself to someone else who doesn't know your heart.

Losing with class turns your loss into a much bigger victory than any win would. Try to ignore those who are mocking you, because the more you listen to them, the more you accept their words as fact.

5. Learn a lesson
Take time to reflect. Instead of being consumed by your emotions for a long period, try to learn from what happened.

You may have been defeated, but you need not be defeatist. You've grown, and you've been taught a lesson. Ask yourself about the purpose of this failure; what you can learn from it; and why it happened.

6. Improve on your mistakes
Figure out what you can really do to stop this from happening again – and make it actionable.

If you try to focus on your next win, it will help you feel better about your last defeat. Take note that not all winners have won their first match.

It does not matter how many times you fail, as long as you keep on giving your best effort. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Keep on believing in yourself because sooner or later you will achieve the success that you are dreaming of. (KBAPI)