Have you ever done something that you regret or are extremely embarrassed about? Maybe you got caught up in a situation with a friend, group of friends, or in a romantic relationship that you wish had never happened. Did you share something that you wish you hadn't? It may have been a momentary lapse of judgment, or something that went on for quite a while.
You aren't alone. Although most people don't want to admit it, at some point in their life everyone has done something they regret or are embarrassed about. No one is perfect. No one's life is perfect. We live in an imperfect world.
Challenge yourself to learn from your mistakes, and then try to
do better and
be better in the future. In order to do this, you also sometimes have to accept your share of responsibility for the situation even though that's not always easy to do. It's certainly easier to deflect feelings of guilt or embarrassment by blaming someone else rather than owning it yourself.
We are bombarded with social media and instant communication, so it's easy to get caught up in a reality that exists only in our phones, tablets, and computers. Instead of doing this, it's important to step back and look at the world around you, remembering the people and things that are important to you. Do you regret sending or posting a photo? Is there a text message that you wish you could delete from someone else's phone? Don't be so consumed by events online that you forget to live your life in the real world. How you relate with, respond to, and behave around others gives a much more powerful representation of who you are as a person than a text, photo, or post.
We can get swept away and overwhelmed by our thoughts... or learn to step back and see them with clarity.
It's easy to forget it's a choice.
The ability to bounce back from bad experiences, or thrive in spite of hard times is called
resiliency. Strive to be resilient. Instead of being a victim, take control of the things you can. Own your mistakes and learn from them. Be honest, apologize, and make amends when you hurt others. Learn how to work through your problems so you can be a stronger and more confident person in the long run. Forgive yourself for not being perfect.
- Have you done something that you regret or that you are embarrassed of?
- If you were able to rewind your life, how would you handle it differently?
- Since you can't go back and erase what happened, how can you own up to it or prove to others that you are not bad person?
- What positive or reassuring messages will help you to forgive yourself for what happened?
