If You’ve Ever Faced A Setback, This One’s For You

the pearl in my oysta

How I Learned to Turn Challenges Into Opportunities

The path to success is never linear, it’s full of twists, turns, and unexpected detours. While setbacks feel shitty in the moment, they often serve as the very catalyst for growth and reinvention. And sometimes, your greatest challenges might actually be paving the way to your biggest breakthroughs.

Life never goes according to plan. But honestly? I think that’s a good thing.

I have a museum of failures that’s far more impressive than my trophy collection. As a dancer, rejection was my constant companion—thousands of “no’s” that hit me like a punch in the gut every single time. It was brutal, and honestly, there were moments I wondered if I’d ever get past the sting. But with every rejection, I learned something invaluable about my own resilience. Each “no” taught me to push harder, refine my craft, and embrace the strength that comes from facing those challenges head-on.

But it wasn’t just the “no’s” that shaped me—it was the decisions that followed. Those setbacks forced me to confront some of the hardest choices of my life. In the prime of my dance career, I walked away from everything I’d worked for. I’ve also called off an engagement, lost jobs, lost friends, and “started over” more times than I care to admit. A lot of those moments were raw, painful, and filled with uncertainty. But they were also the catalysts for the reinvention that ultimately changed everything for me.

So, how did we turn challenges into opportunities?

Embrace the Reality of Setbacks

Look, life’s not supposed to be a smooth ride. When things don’t go your way, it’s teaching you something about yourself that you might not have seen before. Take it from me—I walked away from the dance world in the prime of my career. I now have a job that I love dearly, and if I didn’t make that decision all those years ago, I likely wouldn’t have what I do today. Setbacks aren’t the end of the road—they’re the moments that help you get even clearer about who you are and where you’re headed.

Pivot and Adapt

Setbacks are never a sign to give up—they’re the universe’s way of saying, “Watch it, it’s time to reevaluate.” Maybe the plan you thought was solid isn’t working anymore. Maybe the goal you thought you wanted isn’t even the right one anymore. And that’s absolutely fine! Pivot. Reinvent. Explore what’s next. Trust me, the detour can end up being the best decision you ever made. If I hadn’t left that first engagement, I never would’ve met my husband—who is an absolute dream and better than any man I ever could have imagined for myself.

Resilience Is the Ultimate Superpower

Resilience isn’t about being a superhero. It’s about taking a hit, feeling the sting, and getting back up even stronger. The challenges are coming, and you get to choose: either stay stuck in the mess, or keep moving forward. I’m all about building resilience. It didn’t come overnight, but with every setback, I developed more of it. And that’s what breeds confidence. The more you push through, the more you realize you can handle whatever life throws at you.

Find Opportunity in the Unexpected

One of the best things a setback can give you is the chance to see things from a different angle. When life hands you something unexpected, you’re forced to get creative. That’s when you discover new opportunities, new solutions—things you didn’t even think of before. Maybe that business idea that flopped opens your eyes to a whole new market. Maybe that personal struggle teaches you how to set boundaries, which transforms your relationships. Setbacks can be redirections—pointing you to something better than you could’ve imagined.

Take Action—Even Small Steps Count

It’s easy to get paralyzed by frustration. To feel stuck in that space between what you want and what’s happening. Nothing changes if you don’t take action. Start small if you have to. But take that step forward. Even the tiniest movement creates momentum. Whether it's reaching out for advice, refining your plan, or just taking a breather to reset—those steps, no matter how small, are what keep you moving.

Trust The Porcess

Success isn’t about dodging failure. It’s about embracing the journey, every twist, every detour, and every mess along the way. Setbacks don’t define you—how you choose to respond to them does. Every obstacle is just an opportunity to come back stronger, smarter, and more ready for whatever’s next.

So next time life throws you a curveball, don’t panic. Take a deep breath, adjust, and trust that this setback might just be the start of your next big breakthrough. Keep going. Your comeback is waiting.

I recently interviewed Jennifer Fisher and if her story taught me anything, it’s that setbacks can be the beginning of something much bigger. Jennifer’s journey is full of twists and turns, but instead of letting challenges define her, she used them to build her iconic jewelry brand on her own terms. In this week’s episode of World’s Your Oysta, Jennifer gets real about how she navigated the bumps in her road and came out stronger on the other side.

You’ll definitely want to tune in for her insights on resilience, reinvention, and bold authenticity.