I Just Made a Mistake!
I just made a mistake and I can feel it. The more my brain grasps that I made a mistake, the higher my blood pressure goes. I can feel my cheeks burning, they’re turning red and my heart is racing.
Such strong sensations: our entire body reacts to the fact of a mistake; it goes against our grain. Suddenly our very core is challenged.
When you think you are doing the right thing and discover that it’s exactly the wrong thing, our whole body reacts. It becomes physical. It even feels a bit defensive – probably because our mind is trying to figure out how this new fact that used to be wrong is now right.
Breathe. Sit down and breathe a moment. Close your eyes and try to slow your brain; ease it from its mad whirl. Wrong, I’m wrong. But, how could I be wrong? I’m not wrong, I don’t make mistakes. Well, as it turns out, yes, I do make mistakes and now I’m trying to manage that fact.
The only solution is to calm down. Once that happens, I can take a look at what happened so I can help my mind understand. It is a learning moment even if it feels just terrible.
We all make mistakes. That’s right, while we don’t like to think so, while are so very certain we are never mistaken, it actually does happen.
What to do when you are suddenly confronted with the fact of a mistake? First, give yourself time to process your physical and emotional reaction; your surprise may strengthen your response. Before you share with others, work at regaining your composure.
Take deep, calming breaths with closed eyes. To fix mistakes means you need your full brain power and focus. That means you need to be fully in control. Process the physical and emotional side of the mistake. Then, own up to the mistake and fix it if that is possible. Finally, figure out how to avoid a repeat of the mistake.
By Polly Jensen | Posted 3.7.2014
In: Emotions, Emotions