Own up to your mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle those mistakes speaks volumes about you. Do you admit your mistakes, “I made a mistake, and I’m sorry”? Do you attempt to quickly fix things and hope that no one notices? Or, do you try to blame it on someone or something else?
Owning up to your mistakes is not easy, but the more you hold yourself accountable, the more you will grow personally and professionally. You will quickly learn that admitting and learning from your mistakes is a sign of strength and self-awareness, paving the way for greater consciousness, better relationships and a more fulfilling life.
Here are some steps to take when you make a mistake:
Let yourself feel bad about it- most people feel bad after making a mistake. You might feel overwhelmed or wish you could disappear, and that’s completely normal. Give yourself permission to feel and process those emotions, however don’t dwell on those feelings too long. Instead, it’s helpful to acknowledge them and then let them go, moving beyond that emotional state.
Take action and apologize- try to fix the mistake if you can. Go through the exercise of assessing what went wrong and figure out the best way to make it right. By offering solutions and continuing to work on the issue after it has happened, you are showing accountability, which goes along way with the people who may be affected. Quick fixes may be good temporarily, but if possible, try to find a long-term solution that will improve the situation overall. If your mistake affected someone else, offer then a sincere apology. Heartfelt apologies repair relationships and build trust.
Look for the silver lining- mistakes give us the opportunity to change and grow. Take what you’ve learned from this mistake and apply it to future situations. This will ensure you don’t make the same mistake twice. Making small and thoughtful changes from your learnings will make a huge difference in your life’s journey.
When you learn to look at mistakes from a growth mindset, owning up to them becomes less challenging. This positive frame of mind will help you see mistakes as learning opportunities for personal development, helping you to avoid the curse of perfectionism and motivating you to continue improving. You will see mistakes not as a threat to your character but rather as stepping stones to being a better person and creating a better future.