Made a mistake? Own it. You’ll learn more and gain respect

Mistakes can hurt like hell. It’s hard to be confronted by our own flaws, and seeing them reflected through the eyes of others can sting even more. But here’s how you bounce back even stronger...

Recognize that mistakes are a normal part of life. Without them, we wouldn’t learn anything. Sometimes mistakes are so big that they can’t be fixed easily. Sometimes a takeaway isn’t immediately clear. That’s perfectly normal, too.

The first step is acceptance. Screws-up don’t define you because you are not your mistake. Whatever may have happened, your intrinsic value as a human being is separate from it.

Own up to your mistake, quickly. Don’t try to justify it. (That’s just your pride talking.) Accepting full responsibility is the most effective way of disarming the situation.

Assess the consequences (if any) as objectively as possible. Not sure what you did wrong? Talk to someone who can help fill you in.

There’s a solution to most problems. Consider what you can do to improve or rectify the situation, then act on it. You may realize that it’s not as bad as you first thought.

Reflect. Ask yourself: “What could I have done differently? How can I make sure it doesn’t happen again?” This is an opportunity for growth.

If you’re worried about undermining your own reputation, just remember that nobody is perfect. When others know that you’re working on turning a negative into a positive, they can be more understanding than you might expect.

Don’t dwell on it. Open up about the issue with someone you trust, then move on as best you can. If you continue to ruminate on past mistakes, it could be a sign of a deeper issue worth exploring with a therapist.

Bottom line: Mistakes are going to happen. That’s just a rule of life. It’s all about how you recover from them. If you can gain some wisdom from whatever happened, you’ll be richer for the experience. Next time someone makes the same mistake, you may be the one they turn to.