The Power Of Admitting Your Mistakes
So many of us think that getting everything right all the time is the most important thing. We think it makes us powerful, that people will look up to us and we’ll earn people’s respect if we personify perfection. Sadly, it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Admitting your mistakes and failures shows your vulnerability. And showing vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. Showing yourself as a human being with all your flaws is valued much more than showing yourself as a robot who never falters.
Think for a moment – do you admire people who dared to say “I’m sorry, I made a mistake” or do you admire people who think they’re always right? I’m quite sure the former get more praise, as they show vulnerability and honesty.
Making a mistake and admitting it is a strength that some never master. Covering up and not admitting your mistake is a cowardly act, but inexplicably some believe it to be the right way to behave.
Who do You Look Up to?
I look up to people whose vulnerability I’ve seen. I’ve seen them make mistakes and I’ve seen them apologize. Apologizing for an error shows that you recognize you screwed up.
If you don’t apologize, most people will assume that you don’t know that you made a mistake or that you simply don’t care. As a result, they won’t perceive you as a strong individual who’s able to own up to his/her mistakes.
It takes a lot of courage to admit you’re wrong, especially when making a huge mistake. But if you do that, you’re rewarded with trust and loyalty.
Your honesty stands out in a world driven by fake happy lives on social media. By showing that you’re human, it’s easier for people to forgive you. If people don’t see your humanity, you’re hard to forgive. Having crazy expectations for ourselves and others forces us to fake our happiness, which eventually leads to a breakdown.
We look up to people who are courageous, smart, well-spoken and self-confident. We criticize people who pretend to have these qualities. For instance, I’ve noticed that people who want to look perfect (on social media, for example) are often the furthest from it.
Social Media Makes it Worse
Admitting your mistakes on social media is a rarity. It almost never happens. People just delete the post if they realize they’ve made a mistake. I have several people in my friends’ list who post some really questionable stuff, then get criticized in the comments and delete the post.
This, to me, shows an extreme weakness – if you dared to say something, then own up to it. It doesn’t matter whether you said it on Facebook or in real life. If you can’t own up to your words later, don’t post them. When you’ve made a mistake, admit it.
If you notice that someone posts pictures of their extremely happy (love) life every day, and you’re close to this person, you should sit down and have a deep talk. There’s a high probability that something’s wrong.
I know countless examples of couples who “love each other so much” on social media and break up a few months later. If you need validation for your relationship from social media, then something’s wrong.
I’m not referring to people who post about their happy relationship every once in a while, but those posts which are daily, and overflowing with love and cheesy quotes.