The Comeback

in #hive-1538502 days ago

Mistakes. I'm not sure there's anyone who likes making them. Perhaps there are people who are complacent about them, but the general idea is that they could cost us a lot sometimes or maybe just embarrass us. Reality check! We'll always tend to make mistakes, but we can change how we respond to them rather than cringe, regret, or beat ourselves up over it.

The earliest embarrassment that shaped my mindset about mistakes happened when I was about seven years old. I was free-spirited, fun, and playful. Maybe I used to make jokes of other boys and girls with my gang, and so the universe thought to teach me a lesson I would never forget.

Every Sunday, the children's department held morning devotions before service. Kids were chosen randomly to hold the praise & worship session, and then every other child just flows. Unexpectedly, I was chosen this time, and I was more than unprepared.

When I got up to the stage, nothing happened. No song came to mind. Somehow, every song lyrics I had ever known in my life forsook me. I felt betrayed, but even worse, I froze. I just stood there looking at everyone as they stared, waiting that I do what was expected of me. Many seconds passed, and I was thankfully taken out of the misery, and someone else took my place to do the job.

The cloud of embarrassment that surrounded me had me wishing I just vanished for 100 years like Avatar Aang. The all-playful and talkative Jay became radio silent since that day, and humility made a new partnership.

I didn't like how I felt that day and how insecure I became afterwards. Realising how it unnecessarily it slowed me down, I made a strong resolution within myself to never brood over mistakes, regrets, and embarrassment. That I would rather make sure I don't learn the same lesson twice.

So when I say something that I probably shouldn't, step into mud on my way to school, or find myself in an awkward interaction, I try not to flinch. It's happened already, so why not just make a better move and win? If you can't salvage the situation, then don't worsen it by brooding over it, I often think to myself. And it's helped me win in many cases.

To win is to learn and grow from an experience and become a better version of oneself. It is allowing oneself to be teachable and resilient. It is also commendable to bounce off of undesirable situations, although that's not the main focus.

This code I live by has always helped me in my life daily. I am able to maintain a stoic stance in presentations, public speaking, and even in my interactions with people. While it may take a moment or two to re-stabilise from the failure, I try to shake it up eventually and just forge ahead.

Things may not always go as planned, but we can always fine-tune our responses and mindset by learning every day, living teachable, and using each failure as a stepping stone.


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As in ehn... The amount of time people spend brooding and worrying over past deeds ehn, when we know very well that it won't solve anything. I stopped it a long time ago. I don't even like it when people keep talking about past mistakes, because it keeps you back even though you don't notice it. Nice of you to learn it at a young age.

It is actually very stressful to be dwelling on past mistakes for too long. But I guess some people just find it rather convenient. Good we're on the same page, man.

It also takes a smart dude to find a way around in fixing his mistakes. I can attest to this code u live by Jay, u are smart. It just makes sense that we can think of correcting any mistakes by any means and keep forging ahead!
Nice one bro

And you have a large heart yourself, Nkem. Thank you! Some mistakes can be very costly, but we learn every day anyway.

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I used to brood over my mistakes in the past as well, only to discover that it just takes away my time and reduces my confidence the more, the earlier I get over it, and forge ahead to be better next time, it becomes easier to achieve, so yeah, I'm with you on this one.

Oh, yes. Coincidence drops the more we let mistakes overwhelm us. Never does us good. And I don't like that feeling at all

Most times it’s always hard to shake off mistakes made until we learn and growth starts happening. In the end you stopped brooding on those mistakes you’ve made because you chose to learn from it and you got better 🥰.

Life is filled with so much to learn and knowing this is one of the best things that can happen to anyone, it’s good to see this is the code you live by.

See why I call you a comrade 🫡

You learning to move past your mistakes at a very tender age isn't something common and it shows you are unique. Even up till now, I still find it hard to let go of some things that have happened in the past. At times I want to, but then it's not just easy.

That is a brilliant way to look at things for someone so young. Mistakes happen, but it doesn’t define us. Many people have slowed down because they are scared of what they’ll do or say. Living in the past and being anxious of the future. When what they have is the present. You won’t get it immediately but that’s not what matters. What matters is you keep going until you get a hang of it.