To err is human, it is said. So, there is nothing abnormal in committing a mistake or wrongdoing. It is also normal to get scolded or reprimanded or sometimes beaten by your parents, elders and teachers for such acts. Actually, the intention of your elders is to stop you from going in the wrong direction and also to motivate you to act right. However, some people don’t accept their mistake despite committing it knowingly. Some of them are in the habit of even hiding their mistake and telling a lie without any hesitation. They also try to justify their mistakes and easily put the blame on others. Ironically, such people not only point out the mistakes of others promptly, but also highlight it in public brazenly. It is also sad to observe that some people commit the same mistake repeatedly. Actually, they are said to be habitual mistake makers despite the fact that they were warned or fined for committing the same mistake earlier. Undoubtedly, such people face bigger problems sooner than later.
Contrary to this kind of view and attitude, the responsible people are found to be the front runner in accepting their mistakes and saying sorry. They are not error blind and ego driven. In fact, they are very miser in committing mistakes and are equally very particular in taking suitable lessons from each mistake. They are very sound in their understanding of good and bad in life. Actually, the most important point is their firm resolve of not repeating the same mistake in future. Undoubtedly, they achieve success after success in their life. John C. Maxwell rightly says that a man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them and strong enough to correct them.
In fact, accepting your faults with an open mind has several benefits. It is well-known that you feel good after accepting your mistake or wrong doing. If at all, you are liable to face punishment, financial or otherwise, still you feel the inner strength to bear that setback. You don’t feel very uneasy or ashamed as you are now clear in your conscience. Naturally, you are able to look forward with hope and your chances of taking a new course in life brightens. Another remarkable benefit is that you save yourself from telling lies frequently and also making lame excuses. It is correct that we tend to tell a lie to hide one mistake and lie again to justify the previous lie. And in this process, we are caught in a vicious circle that brings so much pain and problems. Yes, it is absolutely needless to think about what the onlookers would say or how they would react on accepting the mistake you have committed. Definitely, such onlookers or your acquaintances would say something negative and nasty, but that is not going to change your position or status. At that point of time, it is far more beneficial to focus on how to come out of this mess and start the journey of life afresh in a more positive manner.
There is no denying the fact that it requires courage to accept your mistake even before someone points it out. This enhances your confidence and you seldom repeat that mistake. You also analyse the cause of your mistake and take suitable lessons for self-improvement. Experts are of the firm view that when you accept your mistake and seek apology, you move forward on a positive path of life and from there your life takes a transformative turn from negative zone to positive zone. Continuing and sustaining this transformative mental frame guarantees success and happiness in your life in coming days. If you go through the real-life stories of turning points related to many great persons of the world, you will be very inspired and surprised.
Several surveys and studies say that those who try to hide or disown their mistakes or wrongdoings or blunders, they normally start suffering from fear psychosis. Some of them also feel depressed as they fail to share their sense of guilt and fear with anybody for some reason or the other. Consequently, they fail to focus on any livelihood related positive activity. During such phases of life, negative and fatal thoughts do come to their mind which badly impact the day-to-day activities and also their health. Hence, it is advisable and desirable that whenever you commit a mistake – knowingly or unknowingly, accept it right away; seek apology; say sorry immediately and march on the path of self-improvement.
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# Published in my Sunday Column of "Morning India" daily.
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