We all make mistakes, some of which are very serious. Because of these mistakes or weaknesses, any thoughtful person feels a sense of failure, sadness, embarrassment, or shame. To some extent feeling bad about making mistakes is good as it fuels us to correct the errors of our ways. But there are also individuals who refuse to see they are wrong, and you can only guess what could happen next. In this article, we will learn some healthy ways to own up to a mistake.
It’s Common to Make Mistakes And We Shouldn’t Be Blaming Others
Life isn’t always easy. We make mistakes, accidents happen, and life doesn’t always go as planned. Is your first instinct to blame someone or something else for your problems?
Our lives are often influenced by a variety of circumstances, including our own and others’ actions, as well as a combination of the two. If you’re late for work, it could be because of the heavy traffic, but it might also be that you didn’t wake up early enough or that you should have gotten ready sooner.
Would you be shouting and ranting about the terrible traffic and the rigorous office standards about reporting on time if you were that person, or would you accept responsibility for your actions and pledge to learn from your mistakes?
Mistakes can also be made in relationships. If as a wife, you find yourself always arguing with your husband about your unmet expectations. Is he not doing enough? Or could it be that you are unreasonably demanding? You may have realized that but are you too embarrassed or too prideful to own up to your mistakes?
Because some people’s egos are so fragile, their self-esteem is so low, and their “psychological constitution” is so weak, admitting they made a mistake or were wrong is simply too dangerous for their egos to bear.
If you find yourself blaming others for every mistake you make, you’ve definitely been in trouble before. It’s especially true if you try to put the blame on your spouse, family, best friends, or coworkers who you have to work closely with. No matter how much we love each other, most individuals will only take responsibility for things that were not their fault for a certain amount of time.
What the Inability to Own Up to Mistakes Can Do to You
Being unwilling to take responsibility for our mistakes can harm us in a variety of ways, in addition to damaging our relationships.
We can only learn how to do things well after we’ve done them wrong. How can we ever learn to do things better if we never recognize that we’ve made a mistake? When we feel a powerful surge of resistance to admit we are wrong, it’s usually us trying to protect our ego because we don’t want to look vulnerable.
But not owning up to your mistakes will impede self-improvement. Some people are aware that they don’t have the desire to improve themselves. A person’s ability to adjust their behavior is crucial, according to studies, before they will admit they made a mistake.
We don’t admit to our mistakes because we convince ourselves that it really is someone else’s fault, but sometimes we know we’re lying. Mentally we develop cognitive dissonance, a state in which one’s thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes are out of sync, especially when it comes to making behavioral choices and changing one’s mind.
When you suffer from cognitive dissonance you may experience general discomfort that has no obvious or clear source, feel conflicted over a disputed subject matter, get known by other people as a hypocrite and worst have conflicting views and/or desires and not know what to do with them. Imagine the mental stress it may cause you.
You might think that some people can get away with not admitting their mistakes as if they are unrepentant bulldozers who just go about their business. Not admitting you made a mistake may make you feel you have protected your ego, thus maintaining your self-esteem. But the truth is that this sense of power is only short-lived.
Psychologists have discussed that unrepentant people are more likely to accumulate feelings of guilt and shame in their subconscious, which can lead to anxiety and sadness in the long run. When you are unable to control this unrepentant or rebellious self you can be on your part to self-destruction due to that mental stress. Some even resort to abusing dangerous substances such as alcohol and drugs to dull the pain of guilt and shame.
The psychological and mental stress that is unreleased, is an unnoticed aspect of modern life, and they are strongly linked to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in some women, diabetes (as stress can affect your blood sugar levels), and others. Stress may also be linked to autoimmune disease, according to recent research.
What are the Healthy Ways in Owning Up A Mistake?
1/ Recognizing that It’s OK to make a mistake
Some people are hesitant to accept that they have made a mistake because they believe that doing so makes them less of a human being. However, it is important to recognize that mistakes are not only a normal part of life, but they can also be useful. We learn and grow through making good use of our failures.
2/ Admitting to yourself and to anyone concerned that you are wrong
If you did something you didn’t like, admit it — you were wrong. If you go ahead and recognize it, it can be empowering and even liberating and it will put you and everyone else in your life on the right track to a brighter future. Apologize and take appropriate action to those involved and or to yourself to make sincere amends. You may even get the help that you need from someone from whom you will need the support to overcome your mistakes.
3/ Believe that you can change
Owning up to your mistake will make you powerful as you move forward and believe that you can change. Learn from your mistake, deal with the consequences and make amends if needed. Being self-aware is your ladder to self-improvement. You may falter as you seek to change but be patient with yourself. Change doesn’t happen overnight.
If you need support, I will be happy to introduce Intuitive Healing, with a special focus on emotional healing and emotional release which can be done through an in-person appointment or via remote healing sessions. The negative emotions that are accumulated in your body (which creates a negative impact on our mental, physical and emotional state) are isolated and identified and released so they no longer hold power over you. It will help release the accumulated negative emotions from your ego that are affecting your subconscious thought patterns and behavior, helping you liberate yourself into overcoming your mistakes and freeing yourself from guilt, shame, and loneliness.
