How to Turn Mistakes into Life’s Lessons

Rebecca Lewis May 13, 2013

We are all wonderful creatures. But the fact remains that we are not perfect. People who say they never made even just a single mistake in their entire life are most likely lying. Mistakes are normal. They are part of everyday life. But even though it happens most of the time, committing mistakes can make us feel embarrassed, disappointed and sometimes, a ‘complete failure’. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can actually turn mistakes into touchstones that will help you become a better person.

1. If you’ve hurt someone’s feelings, apologise. Sometimes, we say things that offend other people and make them feel upset, even though we really don’t mean it. The best way to deal with this kind of situation is to say the big word “SORRY”. Tell that person you didn’t mean to offend him or her. Say sorry with utmost sincerity. Doing this does not just free you from guilt; it may also win you a friend.

2. Face it. The best way to overcome a negative experience is to face it, not avoid it. If you’ve done something wrong, acknowledge it and accept it. Don’t try to deny it. But don’t beat yourself up either. Instead of focusing your time and energy trying to blame yourself, look for ways to repair the damage your error has caused. If for example, you’ve ruined a presentation that made your boss a little disappointed, apologise first and offer a solution to the problem. If it isn’t possible, tell him or her that you will be more careful to avoid doing the same mistake in the future. Accept whatever criticism that may be directed on you without complaining.

3. Confide to someone you trust. Talking helps release some of the discomfort and frustrations you may have about the mistake you did. But be careful who to confide with and never badmouth someone else. Remember, the word can spread quickly. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about it with friends or relatives, you can always talk to a professional therapist.

4. Take responsibility for your action. Committing a mistake can actually help you become more responsible of your actions and decisions. Don’t try to run away – it can only make things more complicated. Instead, confront the situation and deal with the consequences of your mistakes. It is going to be tough but most of the time, the lessons learned from mistakes are the best life lessons we would never forget.

5. Moving on from a mistake is highly possible. Remember that people, too, will get over the mistake you did and forget about it. But sometimes, if it has deeply hurt them, moving on can take a long time. If you have already apologised but the person you’ve hurt hasn’t forgiven you yet, just accept the consequences. As other say, “to forgive is divine”. Not all humans have the ability to forgive and forget.

6. Remember that frustrations and embarrassments are temporary. They say time heals. In the right time, all the negative emotions you’re experiencing right now will go away. Assure yourself that soon you will feel better and everything will turn out all right.

Mistakes have one purpose – to make you stronger, wiser and better. Take time to reflect on things and uncover the hidden lessons from every mistake you did. Surely, it has something good to offer you.

Do you agree that some of the best lessons in life come from failures? Share your insight by posting a comment below.