What do you do when you realize that you have made a mistake? Is there a
way to make it right with the person who has been hurt? Is an apology
enough? How can we be sure that we won't make the same mistake again?
Here
are some great tips to help you make a wrong choice into a right
decision. Everyone and everything deserves a second chance.
1. Reflection: Take
some time to think about the choice you made and what else you could
have done. Assume responsibility for your choices, decisions and
reactions; blaming, excuses or circumstances are not a reason to act
inappropriately.
2. Recognize: Acknowledge
that what you did was wrong, disrespectful or unkind. Recognize that
even if you feel you were in the right, there are two sides to every
story. Is there a way that everyone involved wins? Put yourself in the
other person's shoes. How does it feel?
3. Remorse: Remorse
is a sincere feeling of sadness in your heart that it happened and you
either knowingly or unknowingly hurt someone else. Be truly sorry and
express it in an apology. People need to hear the words. You may need to
ask for forgiveness.
4. Restitution: Try
to make it better by returning, repairing or restoring, if possible.
What do you think is fair? How could you restore a good relationship or
trust?
5.
Resolve: Resolve
to make wiser choices in the future by thinking of options and the kind
of person you want to be. Resolve to listen more closely to your moral
compass or inner voice. You aren't perfect and we all make mistakes, but
resolve to try again and again and again if necessary. Mistakes are
never final and be grateful we occasionally get "do-overs" in
life.
6.
Release: If
you have done all you can to remedy the mistake, then let it go. Forgive
yourself if you were in the wrong and forgive the other person if you
feel they were responsible for hurting you. You can only be responsible
for your own choices, reactions and feelings. Don't carry guilt, grudges
or anger forward in your life. It can make you sick, physically,
emotionally and spiritually. Do what you can to remedy the situation and
then allow it to flow away.
Everyone
and everything deserves a second chance.
