Learning from Failure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mistakes. Errors and failures.

Whatever word you use for it, think of the mistakes you've made. How
do you feel about them now?

I have committed a lot of mistakes (and still do). Many times, I feel
bad and berate myself. My self-esteem dips. All are normal reactions.
But I do not end there.

Mistakes have negative connotations but they can also be used for
improvement. The greatest success come from the lessons learned from
errors committed.

Here is a breakdown on what to do with mistakes, using my own.

I once forgot to leave the keys to my car (which was blocking another
one) to the parking attendant. When I came face to face with the owner
who been waiting for an hour It was not the best situation to be in.

Be Aware. As I entered the parking lot, the parking attendant were not
smiling or greeting me. I was about to ask for my keys when I felt a
familiar jingling in my right pocket. I forgot to leave my keys.
That's when I knew I made a mistake.

When you see the facts, don't be in denial. Listen. Observe changes
(or non-changes) . Don't feign innocence. Be level headed. Everybody
makes mistakes. You are not perfect.

Admit. Once you realize your mistake, take the blame. Take
responsibility for your actions ((or inactions). In humility, say you
goofed.

I faced the lady whom i have unintentionally inconvenienced and told
her straight that it was my fault. I had no good reason.

Do not justify mistakes with reasons. It just diminishes your
credibility but does little to make the situation better. No finger
pointing. Do not make a second mistake of placing the blame on
somebody else, the weather or the traffic. Do not lie and insist that
you are not wrong.

Make amends. Do corrections when necessary or you are able to. Ask for
forgiveness but do not overdo it. Listen to what they are saying and
what they are not saying. Sometimes it's better to leave them alone
first and let them cool down. At times, that would be enough.

I asked for forgiveness and said I was very sorry. I took the cue that
she didn't want to hear anything else from me when she said "Can you
move any faster?" She just wanted to get going. So move fast I did.

Many times, we can make amends after our misdeed immediately after. If
you broke a vase, you can buy or pay for it. At other times, it is
best to let go for the moment and make up for it later when.

Move on. When I came home, I was still playing the scene over and over
that I was still shaking from embarrassment. "What If" was the mind
game i played. But I've realized that it's already in the past. I
can't change it. Even if I ran it over and over my head like a DVD
movie, the deed has been done.

There is no use crying over spilled milk. Don't wallow in pity, misery
or fostering depression.

Sometimes we get so focused on a failure that we stay in a state of
helplessness and shock. We feel guilty and unconsciously wallow in misery.

We must get up on our feet and begin anew. Let go of what was and look
to the now and tomorrow.

Learn the Lesson. Guess who gives his key to the parking attendant
even before it is asked? I've learned how to be more responsible after
that embarrassing incident.

Focus on what can be done better. What could work? How could it have
been prevented and how could it be

Do better next time. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over
expecting different results. Perseverance is a good trait to have but
if you insist on doing the same thing that made you fail, you might
need to go to the shrink. Edison "failed" more than 1000 times so we
can now enjoy the light bulb. But he tried several times using
different combination of materials until he got it right.

In every setback, there is an equal or greater opportunity. Find that
gem in every failure which will lead you to success.