Oops, I Did It Again... and That's Okay!

How to Stop Beating Yourself Up and Actually Learn From Your Mistakes

Embracing Compassion: How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy and Actually Learn From Your Mistakes

Ever had one of those moments where you make a tiny mistake—like, say, missing a deadline or forgetting to water the plants you swear you were going to take care of? And suddenly, you're convinced you're the worst human to ever walk the earth? Maybe you catch yourself thinking, "I'm worthless," "I totally deserve this," or, "I should have done better... again." Yeah, been there.

Here's the thing: We're all guilty of being our own worst critics. We've all got that inner voice who is a little too good at pointing out every flaw, every mistake, and every awkward moment. Spoiler alert: It's not helpful. It just makes you feel worse, and that's the last thing you need when you're already beating yourself up.

Now, I’ll admit, I've been right there—obsessing over tiny slip-ups like I was starring in my own personal tragedy. But after some serious self-reflection (and maybe a few too many facepalms), I realized something: self-compassion is the key to actually growing from our mistakes, not endless self-flagellation.

Here’s the deal: when we go on that self-criticism bender, we're basically pouring gasoline on our emotional dumpster fire. Instead of offering ourselves support, we're just piling on more negativity, which is the opposite of what we need. You know how when your friend screws up, you tell them, “Hey, don’t worry about it. We all make mistakes. You’ll get it next time”? Why not give that same courtesy to yourself? (Don’t worry, no one’s looking. You can be nice to you in private.)