Q: I don’t know how to deal with setbacks at work. How do I stay positive when I'm passed up for a promotion or don’t get a job I want?
A: When we hit a bump in the road as we move along our career paths, it’s natural to feel frustrated, disempowered or even experience low self-esteem. It’s important to view these hardships (such as a negative performance review or not getting the job you want) as opportunities for growth and learning. Try to “zoom out” and see these moments as blips in a much larger picture. Understand that these feelings of disappointment are temporary and may actually help you grow and develop in new and important ways. For example, I am grateful to a boss that wouldn’t promote me at a previous job because that motivated me to leave and co-found Urban Balance, something I may not have done otherwise. Disappointments can be opportunities to direct us towards a different path that will bring even better things to our lives...