I've lost count of the amount of setbacks I've experienced since graduating high school. Like many people, each setback made me feel like a failure.

Eventually, I learned how to pick myself back up and push forward.

Of course, each time it felt like I was slowly climbing up a cliff with my bare hands, struggling to see land.

With each obstacle, I found I was learning to bounce back more quickly. Logically speaking, I knew it didn't make me a failure, but nonetheless I felt like one. Because I didn't reach my goal successfully the first time, what was the point in continuing?

Whether it was overcoming a bad habit, trying to pick up my grades or lose weight, I'd ask myself, "What's the point?" every time I 'failed.'

Here's the thing though: You're only a failure if you give up.

A setback doesn't constitute a failure; it means you've just found another way that doesn't work in your path to success. After all, how can you possibly succeed if you don't try?

It took me a long time to truly understand this, but eventually, as Einstein would say, 'my desire for success became greater than my fear of failure.'

You see, it's impossible for any of us to succeed on the first try 100 percent of the time. In fact, the odds are typically stacked against us, particularly when we just say we're going to achieve something without a plan of action.

Take, for instance, most of the world's use of New Year's resolutions. How many of us make a promise to ourselves and break it within a month or so? I'll raise my hand to that.

Why are we so incredibly motivated when we make this promise, but then stop trying?

The fear of failing is powerful.

One setback and you're back to square one, right?

One setback and you've reverted back to your old self.

This is not OK.

The only thing that should be feared is being stagnate; unmoving. Progress is change. Maybe you've found multiple ways to fail, but all it takes is one spark to find success.

What is success?

Winston Churchill says it's stumbling from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.

It can be difficult keeping up this enthusiasm in the face of a setback, much like climbing up that cliff.

Eventually, I reached land, and you will too. It took a change in perspective; a big move, for me to reach equal footing. Sometimes, that's all success requires: A change.

It's amazing what a different perspective can do for a person. It's that glass is half-full versus half-empty mentality. It's similar to a person putting on glasses and being able to see clearly for the first time. Seeing the world through a different lens can make all the difference.

Next time you hit a wall, remember this: This setback does not make you a failure. Smile in the face of adversity, and know you will achieve your goal.