"Si tu es blessé, lèche ta plaie et relève-toi. Si tu as donné le meilleur de toi-même, il est temps d'aller de l'avant."

When you’ve been knocked down and feel like you’ve given all you’ve got, the best thing you can do is take a moment to heal, then get back up and keep going. That’s the crux of the idea. You’re gonna face setbacks in life—that’s a given. The real question is how you deal with them. Do you wallow in self-pity, or do you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue on your journey?

Think about the historical context of this mindset. It’s something that’s been echoed through the ages. From ancient warriors who had to recover from battle wounds to continue fighting, to modern-day athletes who have to push past injuries and setbacks, this idea is timeless. Why? Because resilience is a fundamental part of the human spirit. It’s what keeps us moving forward despite the obstacles we face.

Take, for example, J.K. Rowling. She faced numerous rejections before “Harry Potter” became a phenomenon. She was a single mother, living on welfare, and struggling with depression. But she didn’t let those rejections keep her down. She took a moment to lick her wounds—felt the sting of those rejections—but then she got back up and continued submitting her manuscript. Eventually, she found a publisher, and the rest is history. Her story is a vivid example of how resilience can lead to incredible outcomes.

So, how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? First, accept that setbacks are part of the process. You’ll fail, get hurt, or feel defeated. That’s normal. Give yourself permission to feel those emotions—lick your wounds—but don’t let them consume you. Set a time limit for your pity party, then commit to getting back up. Reflect on what you’ve learned from the experience and use that knowledge to move forward.

Imagine you’re working on a big project at work, and despite all your hard work, it doesn’t get the approval you were hoping for. Instead of sinking into despair, take a step back. Acknowledge the disappointment, but then look at what you can learn from the situation. Maybe you need to tweak your approach or gather more data. Whatever it is, use the setback as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block.

Let me tell you a story. Picture a young man named Alex. He’s passionate about running and decides to train for a marathon. He gives it his all—early mornings, strict diet, intense workouts. But a week before the marathon, he injures his ankle. He’s devastated. Months of hard work seem wasted. But after a brief period of feeling sorry for himself, he decides to see a physical therapist, follow the recovery plan, and keep his spirits up. Three months later, he runs a half-marathon and nails it. He didn’t let the injury define him. He licked his wounds, got back up, and moved forward.

The takeaway here? Life’s gonna knock you down. It’s inevitable. But your ability to get back up, heal, and keep moving is what will ultimately define your success. So the next time you face a setback, remember: lick your wounds, then get up and move forward. You’ve got this.