When we blame others, we may experience a brief instant of relief. It feels better to no longer be in the crosshairs, the target of criticism, punishment, or harm. And it can help us avoid questioning our own self-worth and worthiness.
In the short term.
But then, come feelings of guilt and regret and possibly anxiety, as we worry that the truth will come out.
And perhaps most importantly, we miss out on the opportunity to learn from the mistake.
Mistakes may be a painful way to learn, but really, they can be your best learning experiences. Face your mistakes, learn the important lessons and then move on with your life.
- First, accept and own the mistake. Reflect on what happened. Own up and apologize, as applicable.
- Don’t be hard on yourself. It adds unnecessary anxiety. Instead, reframe it as a learning opportunity.
- Analyze what actions you took that led to the results. Were you missing information? Was it based on a miscommunication? Were your limiting beliefs getting in the way? Was it because of a bad habit?
- Figure out how to apply what you learned in the previous step to make sure that the mistake doesn’t happen again.
“All people make mistakes. Only the wise learn from their mistakes.” – Winston Churchill