Also, she drew inspiration from those around her who were steadfast.
“One of the things that gave me the most hope and joy after the election, when I really needed it, was meeting so many young people who told me that my defeat had not defeated them,” she says.
Clinton returned to the women’s college located outside of Boston, Ma., 48 years after she delivered the student commencement speech in 1969. She was also the commencement speaker in 1992.
After Trump won, Clinton got a letter from Wellesley alumni who had worked for her presidential campaign.
“They worked their hearts out. And, like a lot of people, they’re wondering: What do we do now?”
Her answer is applicable for anyone facing a defeat, failure of loss.
“There’s only one answer, to keep going,” she says. “Don’t be afraid of your ambition, of your dreams, or even your anger — those are powerful forces. But harness them to make a difference in the world.”
And that, she says is key. After a crushing defeat, turn an emotional reaction into action.
“Because while free and fierce conversations in classrooms, dorm rooms, dining halls are vital, they only get us so far. You have to turn those ideas and those values into action,” she says.
Clinton admitted there was one other tool she used to recover: “I won’t lie. Chardonnay helped a little, too.”
Look for more exclusive pieces of advice from icons like Melinda Gates, Dave Ramsey and others over the next few weeks. Follow along using the hashtag #MakeItNewGrads.
See also:
What Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is more afraid of than screwing up his $438 billion company