4 Steps To Handle Any Mistake

Everybody Makes Mistakes

In an ideal world, we can prepare for anything life throws at us and never make mistakes. But in reality, we have very little knowledge of the future. That’s why it’s better to know how to handle mistakes than to avoid mistakes. (Although of course, you should do both.. don’t make mistakes on purpose)

1-Accept Responsibility

This is often the hardest part. Your emotion default is your biggest obstacle here. Think of a time you gave someone a light criticism and they got disproportionately angry. We’re all  guilty of the same thing at one time or another. Your pride fights hard to stop you from admitting you made a mistake. Learning to say “my fault” without embarrassment is a powerful skill. The sooner the better. 

• Safeguard opportunity–an automatic rule to say “my fault” anytime something bad happens to you. Whether it’s true or not, you create more learning opportunities by taking responsibility. 

2 - Learn from the mistake

Reflect. What were you thinking when you made the mistake? What part of that thinking turned out to be wrong? If you don’t identify the cause, you’re doomed to make the same mistake again. 

I’m making an effort now to do this more consistently. I try to write down in my journal or my phone what I’m thinking when I make a decision. That way I can review my thought process later and see where I might have gone wrong. Let me know in the comments or by email if you’ve had any success making this a habit. Would love to learn from you!

3 - Commit to doing better

Make a plan to avoid making the same mistake again. Build strength and/or install a safeguard.

I was looking back, reading old articles and I don’t think I properly explained how to improve your strengths overall. This is Noah’s personal take on building strength.

• Building strength, whether it be: self-accountability, self-confidence, self-control or self-awareness, comes from the story you tell yourself. If you tell yourself you are completely in control of your actions, you will be stronger than someone who believes his current actions are dictated by his past experiences. If you tell yourself you’re naturally very emotional, or you learned it at home, whether that’s true or not doesn’t matter. It could be true but. But if you told yourself your past can’t stop you from making better decisions today, you will be stronger and make better decisions. Change the stories you tell to change the life you live.

• Acting brave and being brave look remarkably similar if you keep it up long enough.

“The most powerful story in the world is the one you tell yourself. That inner voice has the power to move you forward or anchor you to the past. Choose wisely.” (Parrish, 118)

4 - Repair the damage as best you can 

• Apologize sincerely. Then be better consistently for a long time. A sudden relapse to past behavior could place your relationship in serious danger. Be aware nobody owes you anything. Be sincere, be better and be grateful.

• Don’t let the mistake anchor you down. You are not your mistakes. If you don’t pick your head up and move forward, you’ll sabotage yourself. Have the self-confidence to look at all the obstacles you’ve overcome before. This mistake will be no different. 

Brains Gains

What stories do you tell yourself that hold you back?

I hope everyone’s getting in the holiday spirit. It’s the easiest time of year to do good deeds and be grateful. Don’t miss it.

Your Friend,

Noah “BigNerd” Sochaczevski