Mistakes Don't Define You!

     What do you do when you have made a mistake? First, you must understand that because human beings are not perfect, they will “err”. Imperfection will inevitably lead us to not doing the best that we should (sometimes). However, we should not let our faults and mistakes become tickets to mediocrity or worse, apathy; we should learn that mistakes can actually help us become better people; they can become great stepping- stones if we choose not to allow them to become stumbling blocks.  Here are some suggestions for dealing with mistakes.  

1.             Acknowledge your mistake and decide you will not make it again. Take some time to figure out what led you to do whatever you did. Resolve not to be around people and/or environments that encourage you not to be your best. People are like elevators; they can take you up or down.

2.         Move forward. Making a mistake can change your life; it can alter the direction you were going, but it does not have to paralyze, imprison, or inhibit you from accomplishing your goals. The past can never be undone—you simply cannot go back and reverse time. Therefore, you must move forward. If you look back, it is only to remember the lessons. Reflection aids in helping you understand yourself and others, but do not let yourself waddle in the past. Focusing on the past can be like standing in quicksand. You can get stuck and pulled into a dark hole that you might not be able to climb out of.

3.         Apologize. If you hurt someone, give them a genuine apology, not just with your words, but through action. Find out what the person needs from you (if anything) to heal from whatever pain you caused. While you cannot change what already happened, you can shape the present with something new that is good and noteworthy. Let the person know that you have renewed your mind and you are striving to do better.

4.         Lastly, but certainly not least, get help. Even though life is beautiful, there are seasons when it is like the beach—there will always be low tide and high tide. Sometimes the days are filled with sunshine and the waves are safe enough to ride. On the contrary, there are times when life can feel like crushing, deadly waves and we feel like we’re drowning. It is critical that during these times, we reach out to trustworthy and caring people. Ask them to help you and be humble enough to receive it. Getting assistance is not indicative of weakness, it is actually a sign of great strength. All human beings need support. We were made not to live on islands alone, but in communities is where we thrive and grow.

   I hope this message about dealing with mistakes helped you. Please let me know if there is a specific topic that you would like me to address in the future.

 

Sincerely,

C. Chérie Hardy