OWNING UP TO YOUR MISTAKES

Everybody makes mistakes and it is common to expect an immediate apology when one is wronged. The issue is on the other end when it comes to accepting that one is wrong. It is common human behaviour to feel defensive and self-righteous at times. What we overlook is that not taking responsibility of our mistakes is yet another big mistake. This is because in a community be it a social or any formal setting we are bound to clash whether in a minor or major way and to overcome this inevitable outcome we need to own up to our mistakes sometimes because an apology never killed anyone.

Sometimes one’s ego will never let them step down and accept they were wrong because they either feel what they did was the right thing or they feel that they can fix whatever they have done without apologising. We all have gone through that feeling at some point where deep inside you feel wrong but the mind tells you what you are doing is right.

Sometimes climbing up the corporate ladder for instance, is not only attributed to an attractive CV and expertise but also little details like character. And that is why some people never progress because trivial things like not accepting your flaws can demonstrate a weak character which may be the hindrance of one’s development in many ways.

It is not uncommon to find people denying they were wrong by apportioning the blame to others and coming up with a million reasons. I believe a true leader is the one who owns up to their mistakes and takes responsibility of their actions. This does not make anyone lesser of what they are but rather it manifests a strong character who can take criticism constructively which is a key ingredient if one wants to live harmoniously with others.

By saying this I don’t mean that one should be docile and submit to apologising at impulse because this is also a weak trait if I may say. Once people realise that you are a submissive character they may abuse the opportunity. But when we are genuinely wrong, there is no harm to own up to our mistakes and apologise because life is a journey that no one has it all figured out, we learn so many things in the process and accepting our mistakes is one of the lessons.

Life is not a story we write on a piece of paper erasing anything we desire at will. We cannot undo anything we have done but we can always try to make things right by sometimes accepting that what we did was not right. Growing up we can never understand the importance of little things like an apology but as we progress and experience the repercussions like losing friends, losing a job, a bad vengeance or even ending up with a bad image in the society is when we realize the importance of accepting we are wrong sometimes. As the famous saying goes:

“It is only an error in judgement to make a mistake, but it shows infirmity of character to adhere to it when discovered.”