Mistakes Happen: But What Happens Next?

"We all make mistakes. Messing things up every now and again is just part of the human condition. Despite one's best intentions, life is simply filled with minor missteps, omissions and silly errors. And, yes, even big blunders occur from time-to-time. That said: What we do in the moments right after we make a mistake determines how well we recover and gather the strength, insight and determination to make things right."

"One of the best practices that you can implement is to give a mistake a name. We accomplish two very important things by doing this: We acknowledge an error has been made and, we open the door to take responsibility for it. This practice helps us avoid finger-pointing and excuse making. In turn, by avoiding these, we free-up more energy for mistake correction."

Mistakes are a normal part of life, ranging from minor missteps to occasional major blunders. Immediate reactions shape the quality of recovery, influencing ability to repair and learn. Naming a mistake acknowledges it and enables responsibility while reducing excuses and energy wasted on blame. Allowing a limited period for self-pity—such as counting to ten—permits brief grief but prevents prolonged rumination and shifts focus to corrective action. Intentional breathing calms the stress response and prevents physiological amplification of anxiety. Adopting simple practices like these preserves energy and promotes constructive problem-solving after errors.

Read at Psychology Today