This is the seventh in a series of posts about the lessons I wish Iâd learned earlier in life.Thereâs a (big) difference between beating yourself up and being honest with yourself. The problem is, most of us choose to beat ourselves up more than we should â itâs all in the language we use.Sometimes we get down on ourselves for âslacking offâ or procrastinating, when in reality we are thinking through a tough decision. In The Procrastinatorâs Guide to Success, author Lynn Lively reassuringly notes that if you feel uncertain, confused, overwhelmed, and clueless on how to proceed (we all have those moments!), then youâre not procrastinating; youâre a person who is considering options in order to make the best possible decision. Starting to feel better about yourself yet?
If you spend a little time putting a positive spin on all your actions, it will become second nature, and youâll soon find that youâre more productive. How, you ask? Think of it this way: Every moment you spend worrying about the past is a moment you could spend learning from your mistakes so that you can become a better (and more successful) person.
We could all take a lesson from Thomas Edison, who struggled through more than 10,000 unsuccessful attempts to create the first light bulb before he finally got it right. Imagine if heâd wasted his time dwelling on his so-called âfailuresâ or (even worse) if heâd called himself a failure and given up; who knows how long mankind wouldâve been left in the dark.
So the next time you hit a stumbling block, note what went wrong, make the appropriate changes, and celebrate the fact that youâre one step closer to your goal.
As Jack Welch put it:
Donât beat yourself up if you get it wrong some of the time, especially when youâre starting out. Just remember, itâs your mistake to fix.
And thatâs the key: As long as you recognize the mistake and take action to correct it, move on. Lifeâs too short to beat yourself up anyways.
How you can make this work for you: Take a good, hard look at a recent mistake that youâre beating yourself up over. Instead of focusing on the negative, stop and think about the good that came from the experience. Did you walk away with a better understanding of how to handle a similar situation the next time it rolls around? Did you learn a new skill? Look for the silver lining, and commit yourself to taking something positive from everything you do.