I love the saying, “When life throws lemons at you, make lemonade.” The past couple years have been full of lemons for me, and I’ve made plenty of lemonade—enough to share.

Today, I want to talk about setbacks. None of us has a perfect track record, personally or professionally. Emerging from a setback takes self-belief, resilience, and a lot of support. It’s a messy process; you may feel self-doubt, grief, guilt, or even lose sight of who you are when the solution isn’t obvious.

Here is what I learnt:

Faith is essential—in yourself and in the supreme power’s plan. Though it’s not always clear when you’re in the thick of it, a better path is often unfolding. A friend once reminded me, “Cut your losses and move on; a bright future is waiting for you on the other side.”

The mind plays a powerful role in how we handle setbacks. Our minds work in complex ways, and left unchecked, they can override reason and intellect. You might feel a surge of excitement for the future one moment, only to be hit with guilt over the past the next. Addressing feelings of frustration and sadness is as crucial as planning your next steps. Suppressed emotions can hold you back, while acknowledging them can help you regain control and move forward.

Lean on loved ones during these times. Sharing what you’re going through and receiving their encouragement can be healing; our intellect might recognize our strengths, but our minds crave validation, and support from others fulfills that need.

Reflect and learn. Take time to jot down lessons from the setback—about the environment, people involved, and your own role and missteps. This is a moment to understand what’s personal and what’s situational. Let your intellect guide you through this process.

Make a fresh start. Whether it’s a change in goals, environment, or nature of work, a fresh perspective keeps your actions focused on the future, not the past.

Once you align your mind and intellect, action naturally follows. Connect these actions to your purpose, as misaligned goals can lead to more setbacks in future. Sometimes, setbacks are the supreme power’s way of saying, “I will shake you so hard that you will pause and reflect on your true purpose.” Once you understand that, setback is not a curse it is a blessing to live a purposeful life.

Growing up with a humble background, my recent setbacks seem like “first world problems,” yet they feel real. I’m especially grateful—for the strength that self-reflection (Swadhyay) brings, and for my support system, my village, who made this lemonade possible. To each of you who stood by me, thank you!