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How to Bounce Back From a Mistake
Forgiving others, and yourself
I spent four weeks on a project for a class, then uploaded the wrong file. By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late. The software only allowed one upload.
Mistakes happen. They make us feel horrible and worry that we’re losing it. After all, how could we be so careless?
As the saying goes, to err is human. My professor understood my mistake, and accepted an e-mailed file of my project. A lot of times, we stress ourselves out over nothing.
But sometimes mistakes aren’t fixed so smoothly, and leave us with real consequences.
When we make a mistake, we need to identify the problem, and work on fixing it. This is not easy. It often means accepting fault and asking others for help.
It can be tempting to blame yourself when you made a mistake, no matter how minor. But don’t be too hard on yourself. Your energy can be better spent on other matters besides dwelling.
Lately, I’ve started tackling problems when a mistake is made. When I make an error, I look at why it could’ve occurred, and put a process in place to prevent it from happening again.
Many mistakes can be prevented by technology. New cars have collision systems that warn you when you’re too…
