An incredibly helpful habit we can practice every day that will display a high level of character on our part and connect us more deeply with those around us, is to quickly admit when we mess up, and then do all we can to fix the situation and repair any damage we may have caused.
We have all heard, “It takes a real man to admit wrongdoing”. Well, it’s true. It takes a pretty big person, and a whole lot of courage, to accept responsibility for something they have done incorrectly and most likely on accident. More so, if it was done on purpose. It is, in many people’s minds, the equivalent to saying, “I messed up, which means I’m not as smart, good, hard working, efficient, or valuable as others around me.”
NOT SO!
Admitting wrongdoing actually says, “I am confident and responsible enough to admit to others when I fail or mess up! I am a continual work in progress. I am trusting, and I trust others to forgive me for acting imperfectly, like I would them. I want to improve myself every day and in every way, and my work and everything I say and do reflects my character and I am proud of it!”
Reminder to self:
- We can trust others to have empathy and help us improve. Know that not everyone will. Some people are at a different place in their life experience. They will throw you under the bus. They will spotlight your failure so that their own failures are minimized, and so that they seem to look better than you. They are not yet confident, and they are still learning. Remember that you will get more of what you tolerate, and you deserve more of what you allow, but try to go through life with grace, understanding, empathy, kindness, and love, regardless of how others behave.
- We can choose to improve ourselves every day and in every way. Know that not everyone will want this for themselves, YET. It takes time to adopt new ways of thinking, speaking, and doing things. It takes self-awareness. It take practice. It takes repetition.
- Our work, and everything we say and do, is a direct reflection of our character. As we improve the quality of our character, it is likely that the work we do, and everything we say and do, will also improve. PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION.
Quickly admitting wrongdoing lets others know you will throw yourself in front of the bus instead of throwing them in front of it. It says a lot about your character when you take responsibility. It says you can be trusted, respected, and counted on. Doing this consistently, and habituating this practice, makes us more reliable, predictable, and dependable.
Quickly admitting wrongdoing is a huge step in owning our power instead of blaming another, dodging consequences, and giving our power away.
Today’s challenge for myself: Today I will quickly admit any wrong doing by saying: “I messed up and I will do everything in my power to make it right.” I will pay attention to how this makes me feel, remembering that, no matter the consequences, I have earned the right to be proud of myself for this one thing.
The interviews with Simon Sinek on the show, IMPACT THEORY, on YouTube, are some of the most empowering pieces of content on the internet today. I hope you get as much from it as I did, and that you share it with others to spread the message he teaches.
goodinthehead is also on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. Follow me there, as well, for daily messages, inspiration, motivation, and reminders. Please pay it forward, and share this, and ANY message, which may empower someone you love or may care about. It is through adding value to others by sharing and spreading wisdom, that we become more valuable as individuals, and collectively, as a whole, we all become wiser.
Remember: Mindset matters. Character counts. That which we choose to consistently focus on is what EXPANDS in our lives. WE CREATE our personal realities.