Here we are embarking on the last quarter of the year and welcoming another beautiful fall season– a great time to start again, reset, and make a more powerful comeback. Did you experience a series of ups and downs this year? Have you had setbacks that got in the way of what you want to achieve? While we all celebrate the highs, it’s the setbacks that often shape our character and wisdom. What if I told you that those very setbacks can turn into your most powerful comebacks? Yes, it’s not only possible—it’s very meaningful and fulfilling when you learn to view setbacks and difficulties through a different lens– a lens that enables you to see the valuable gifts from your setbacks.

In this article, we’ll explore how you can leverage setbacks, find courage, and tap into the mindset needed for a powerful transformation. Let’s dive into six ways to harness your setbacks to create a path to a higher version of yourself.

1. It’s Never Too Late to Start Again Unless You Don’t Start

Setbacks often feel final and stop you in your tracks to pursuing your passion, your joy, and your dreams. But that’s a mindset you can control and change by “resetting” your mind. Everyone can find justifications for not overcoming setbacks, just as they can by pursuing to overcome them. Some of the common justifications to name a few include: “I keep trying but nothing is working” — “It’s too late”– “I can’t do it” — “I don’t have the energy anymore” — “I’m too young” or “I’m too old.” All of these are disempowering beliefs you can replace. The power is within you to do so, but you need to believe it and really want it first.

The truth is it’s never too late to start anything, at any time, at any age, under any circumstance. Science supports the idea that starting again later in life can be just as rewarding as starting early. Research from Stanford University found that people can experience peak creativity and productivity well into their later years. Whether you’ve faced professional, personal, or health-related challenges, remember that it’s never too late to make a comeback unless you don’t start. Similarly, we know that the ultimate failure isn’t that we tried and failed, it’s that we stop being committed to trying and trying again.

2. Find a Purpose Bigger than Yourself

Courage doesn’t come from avoiding fear—it comes from wanting to feel good, having a vision of a bright future, and a purpose that is bigger than yourself. Studies show that when people have a purpose, especially one tied to the higher energy of heart-based living and serving others, their sense of courage increases. When your comeback is linked to your soul’s desires, it fuels your determination, your courage, and your strength to overcome any hardships.

To be a model for others, tap into your own inner strength first. Having a purpose helps you do that! Don’t think of your setbacks being only about you; think about how you can also help or uplift someone else. You can positively impact others exponentially when you find a purpose bigger than yourself. The courage to rise again can be a powerful motivator when you couple it with your desire to feel good, enjoy life, give strength to people you love, inspire people in your community, advocate for justice, or build a legacy. By overcoming and turning setbacks into powerful comebacks, you have the potential to contribute to the world and to those who resonate with your message and are walking a similar path.

3. Focus on Being an Overcomer

The power of mindset in overcoming setbacks cannot be overstated. We learn to become resilient when we overcome difficulties by changing what we focus on. There’s a saying that goes: “”where focus goes, energy flows”. Your energy can turn your setbacks into powerful comebacks by focusing on being an overcomer versus focusing on the problem at hand. You can passionately declare to yourself and others “I will overcome this”, “I will not let this bring me down” and “I shall not be defeated.” This isn’t just motivational—it’s grounded in science. Research on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) shows that continually practicing replacing your negative thought patterns with empowering ones can lead to greater resilience and mental toughness.

When you decide that setbacks are a great tool to build your inner strength, your mind opens up a pathway to search for solutions, opportunities, and possibilities rather than dwelling on the problems. It opens up your intuition to trust and tap into a higher intelligence. It uses your energy to help you rather than fight stress This mental shift is critical for turning setbacks into comebacks. To keep reminding you of this, get your inspiration from others who have overcome difficult situations and made their lives extraordinary. Make a playlist with motivational videos, podcasts, and uplifting songs. Read articles, quotes, and books that keep you connected. You can also check out my book POWER UP YOUR VISION to gain deeper insights about how our mindset works and how you can rewire it to live a happier life daily.

4. Develop Your Circles of Support

A strong support system is one of the best predictors of success. Research indicates that people with strong support systems and those who build social connections are more likely to overcome adversity and stay true to achieving their vision. Surround yourself with people who support you and like-minded individuals who have navigated and overcome setbacks. Focus on personal relationships, joining communities, as well as building your own community and professional networks. These relationships provide you with exposure, accountability, and the commitment to model that strength to become stronger together.

Your circle of support becomes your inspiration and purpose when things get tough. With the right circle, you won’t have to walk this journey alone. And by modeling your resilience and radiating your strength and energy, YOU actually become the bigger supporter of your circle supporting others in exponential ways. This support is symbiotic as a result. Everyone in your circle feels your strength and energy. And in turn, this collective energy elevates one another even more.

5. Learn to Elevate Your Energy During Difficult Times

Maintaining high energy, even in the most difficult times, is key to making a comeback. It is a skill that you can learn to harness from the inside to elevate the energy you are radiating. Studies show that people who practice gratitude and focus on positive aspects while feeling down have the highest likelihood of success after setbacks. One way to maintain high energy is to focus on small, daily victories. When you make a habit of celebrating progress and even the smallest of wins, you reinforce your resilience.

During your darkest moments, remember that energy is a choice you actually have control over igniting. That energy is within you. You just have to learn to tap into it. You do so by tapping into your heart and activating the higher emotions of the heart. Channel your energy consciously and wisely, and it will carry you through any storm.

6. Remember: The Future Has Not Happened Yet—Anything is Still Possible

One of the most powerful truths you can embrace is that the future is not fixed. The challenges and setbacks you face today don’t dictate what your tomorrow will be. This concept is central to making a strong comeback.

Psychological studies suggest that a focus on future possibilities—rather than dwelling on fears, or past negativities—can help shift your brain into action mode. Neuroscientists explain that this future-oriented thinking activates the brain’s “positive action” centers, opening you up to see new opportunities and possibilities.

Think of it this way: no matter what setbacks you’ve encountered, the future is still a blank slate. As my son’s words always ring loud within me when things get tough, his wisdom reminds me that the future has not happened yet, all things are still possible; we can still create it. Hope and miracles are real, we have the power to see the future reality we want, not the one that we worry about or fear. Every decision you make today, whether it is starting a new day with a fresh perspective, trying again, or taking a risk, is part of designing a new future. Visualize where you want to be and look forward, identifying the steps necessary to get there. With this mindset, setbacks become strengths to get over temporary hurdles and obstacles to get you to what you want, not blocks or permanent endings to your desires and hopes.

In Summary: Turn Setbacks Into Success

Success after setbacks is a well-established phenomenon supported by both research and real-life stories. People who push through setbacks experience the fulfillment of success way more than those who avoid it. It is through mindset, learning from mistakes, or sheer perseverance that enable us to prevail.

Stories of people like Michael Jordan are one of thousands. He shared how he missed more than 9,000 shots in his career and lost almost 300 games. He was trusted to take the game-winning shot 26 times and missed. His line is “I failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Other cancer survivors such as Kris Carr, Anita Moorjani, Robin Roberts, Nelson Mandela, Ian Gowler illustrate that healing starts with a mindset that goes beyond medical interventions. There are other endless stories of patients who experienced radical remissions by tapping into their inner strength, positive thinking, and a strong will to live.

Be courageous. Start again. Be vulnerable. Remember what you want. Stay true to yourself. This shift in mindset is the most fulfilling path to your personal growth. Also always remember, that your setbacks don’t define you—it’s how you respond to them that does. By embracing a mindset of resilience, focusing on your vision, and surrounding yourself with a strong support system, you’ll find that setbacks are simply the foundation for your most powerful comebacks. It’s never too late to start, and the reward is always worth more than the effort. Make a powerful comeback, start again, and tap into your power to thrive!

To learn more about how to empower yourself daily with tools and techniques that help you thrive, get my book POWER UP YOUR VISION on Amazon.