Don’t let mistakes hold you back; learn from your mistakes. It’s not always easy, but it is the only way to grow. Resting in your mistakes and evolving through the lesson is a process that involves specific steps. These steps include making a wrong decision, acknowledging it, resting on it, learning from it, and recovering. 

Resting and Evolving through Mistakes In 5 Steps

Step 1: Making a Wrong Decision

It is easy to believe that the younger generation makes wrong decisions. They either say what they are not supposed to say, go where they shouldn’t, or do what could have harmed them. But more often than not, people in their 30s, 40s, or 70s also make wrong decisions. No one is devoid of mistakes. It is what you learn from your mistakes that makes the difference.

Step 2: Acknowledgment Phase

The second step to evolving is acknowledging that you have made a mistake. Many people get so caught up in being right that they forget they are hurting others. Some even see the proof of their error and refuse to admit it. While it is an excellent quality to sieve negative thoughts and comments, only a Champion can acknowledge that they are wrong. When you can admit to yourself that you have made a mistake, you are one step closer to evolving from it. 

Step 3: Resting Phase

Many people crave a quick release from the pain, guilt, and disappointment that mistakes bring. But instead of avoiding the emotions, rest in them – stay in them – just for a little while. Fifteen minutes in that space by yourself is not just good for your mental health, but it is the next step to evolving from that mistake. 

Step 4: Learning Phase

After you have cried or sulked by yourself in that guilt – this is where you make the difference. Don’t tell yourself you don’t deserve to win – No! Don’t do that. Ask yourself where you went wrong. What could you have done better? The only way to learn from your mistakes is to ask yourself questions that make you take positive, actionable steps and uncover the root mistake. 

For example, if you crashed a car – hopefully you don’t – ask yourself what went wrong. 

• Were you calling or texting? 
• Did you forget to check the tire pressure? 
• Did you look back just for a second? 

Figure out what you can learn from your mistake. 

Step 5: Recovery Phase

The final stage is to recover from that event and move on. Then, you can become a better version of yourself. Forgive yourself IMMEDIATELY. Don’t hold on to the hurt (you had time to do that already). Don’t play the victim. Rise and move on. One way to let go of pain even faster is to share the love. Go out and tell someone you love them, and give someone a well-timed hug. The transfer of emotions can help you heal. 

So, what have you learned from your mistakes?

Have you ever just sat in the guilt, the shame, and the regret? If you have, what did you learn from it? The key is not only to sit but to stand up firm afterward. If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you cannot recover. It will happen again. The only way to evolve from a mistake is to move past it, learn the lessons and move on.

Always remember the five steps cannot be replaced by each other. If you haven’t sat in the mistake, you cannot see reasons to forgive yourself. Tell yourself after you have sat in your shame and regret, ‘I love myself, I forgive myself, and all is forgotten as long as I have learned from it.’