A:  I am so sorry to hear that you feel like a failure. That’s a hard place to be. I can relate, as there have been long stretches of time in my life when I felt that way, too.

I seriously doubt whether you are attracting negative spirit personalities, but you may be attracting negative energies, as that is where your mind seems to be. You appear to have an attitude of defeat in your question, and your attitude really does affect your reality.

Jesus once met a woman who harbored what he called the “spirit of infirmity.” Here’s the story:

(167:3.1) Abner had arranged for the Master to teach in the synagogue on this Sabbath day, the first time Jesus had appeared in a synagogue since they had all been closed to his teachings by order of the Sanhedrin. At the conclusion of the service Jesus looked down before him upon an elderly woman who wore a downcast expression, and who was much bent in form. This woman had long been fear-ridden, and all joy had passed out of her life. As Jesus stepped down from the pulpit, he went over to her and, touching her bowed-over form on the shoulder, said: “Woman, if you would only believe, you could be wholly loosed from your spirit of infirmity.” And this woman, who had been bowed down and bound up by the depressions of fear for more than eighteen years, believed the words of the Master and by faith straightened up immediately. When this woman saw that she had been made straight, she lifted up her voice and glorified God.

Everybody thought it was a miracle, but it really wasn’t; this woman needed to hear that she had the power within her to feel better just by changing her mind, and having faith! And that is what she did.

I think you could substitute the word “failure” for “infirmity,” and the advice would still be the same. Jesus told her that she had only to believe and that her spirit would be revived. Sometimes, all it takes to really get a new and fresh start is to talk it over with God. I hope you have discovered God as the loving Father that he is. He is always ready to hear you and advise you.

It is my experience that being born of the spirit, and living life in the service of the Kingdom is a sure cure for depression, for fear, and for that feeling of uselessness and hopelessness that can sometimes afflict our minds—and our very lives. As we think, so we are. Continued failure usually accompanies that sense of inner uselessness and defeat. Change that, and the rest of our lives change. It is inevitable.

It is a fact that ALL of us, at one time or another, WILL experience failure and defeat. It is a normal part of life, and cannot be escaped. But defeat is a great teacher, and here are a few quotes from Jesus to help you when you find yourself in that position. See When You’re Discouraged

It might help you to realize also, that Jesus himself was considered a failure by some. His mission of establishing the Kingdom was in total ruins after the crucifixion, and even when he was spreading his gospel of salvation, people laughed at him and called him names. He remained unmoved, and now—2000+ years later—the whole world knows of him, and his gospel of the Kingdom is once again restated with power and majesty in the pages of The Urantia Book to inspire a whole new generation of believers. Become friends with the Master through the pages of The Urantia Book, which is freely available online, and through the many special features of Truthbook.com . He will always lift you up

So, failure is not always what it seems. It is your attitude that is important here. Stay close to God, love yourself and your fellow travelers on this earth, and do good for others. And then no one can call you a failure because you will stop thinking of yourself that way…”