by E.M.Robinson

Created on: June 28, 2008

Painful as it can be at the time, we can learn from our mistakes in life. The old adage "We all make mistakes" is little comfort when the consequences of our mistakes are difficult to accept. There are, however, lessons that most of us have to make at some time in our lives in order to learn what is important in life.

There are ways to help us avoid some of life's big problems and to rebound when we make the mistake anyway:

1. Work at looking at your mistakes "square in the eye" rather than escaping them.

2. Take a look at how you make decisions. Maybe it is your decision making process that leads to mistakes. Re-approaching with an attitude toward making better decisions can transform your life.

3. Sort out the areas of your life that you have control of and the areas you have little or no control of. Factor that reality into how you go about responding to your mistakes.

4. Reflect on how you communicate with the significant people in your life. Are their ways you can communicate differently and head-off mistakes or minimize their damage? This is an area that can work wonders for you.

5. What will it take for you to like yourself? Do good deeds, help others, keep your commitments, and show the people who care about that they are important to you. Staying up to date with these areas of your life will enable you to like yourself. You will want to keep that feeling going.

6. Do relevant research by reading books and articles by respected authorities on the topics that are your areas of need: personal finance, relationships, job hunting, raising children, etc.

7.Take time for yourself so that you can reflect on these concepts and benefit from your reading and time for though.

8. Compliment and praise yourself for a good effort or decision. Take pleasure or pride in how you can make changes to better your life.

9. Explore resources of one-on-one help from trained professionals.

10. Learn to accept praise and compliments gracefully and gratefully. This comfortable handling of success can spill over into how you can handle criticism and conflict.

11. Avoid dwellingon mistakes. Take specific note of what you could have done differently and then move on.

12. Look ahead to the kinds of decisions you may need to make in the future. Approach them with a plan and an improved attitude toward avoiding conflict.

13. Keep a journal. Writing stimulates the thinking and reflecting process. This process leads to action steps to avoid making the same mistakes time and again.

Your goal is "Progress..... Not Perfection."
You will make mistakes from time to time. Work at finding personal strategies to benefit from your mistakes and to save your time and energy for moving forward to reach your highest priority goals.

Get out there and live your life, knowing that life can be struggle. Get out there in the arena of life and do what you want to do and need to do.Then come home to a place where you can rest and recharge.

Knowing yourself in a more meaningful way, as a result of this learning process, will allow you to be a happier and more peaceful "you".

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