6 Simple Steps to Stop Obsessing Over Your Mistakes

Oh shit I did it again.  Screaming at my toddler wanting to tear my hair out when he displays his artistic talent on my new cream colored chaise lounge.  Unfortunately, my reaction was not a one off.  “Mommy, I am sad” he replied.  Ugh.  In the blink of an eye, the guilt sets in as does the usual cycle of beating up myself.

Prior to coaching and awareness of my brain’s tendencies, I would obsess over my mistakes.  Had I yelled to loudly?  Had I seemed too high strung to that nurse?  Had I been to quick to respond.  And the list goes on.  

Obsessing over and over again.  Playing my mistakes in my head like old reruns of Saved By The Bell on TBS.  Ruminating and ruminating.  This takes up a lot of time and energy.  Stealing precious space in my brain.

Adding to the feeling of being bogged down.  Add this heaviness to my pile of charts that need to be completed for the day.  Great…  

Wouldn’t life be easier if we could figure out a way to break this cycle?

Perhaps we could feel lighter, maybe even happier.  We could shift our energies to something more productive as a result!

How?

1.      Most run of the mill every day mistakes aren’t as devastating as our brain perceives.

2.     Let’s look at this misstep as an opportunity to learn and grow.

3.     Reflect on a prior time when you wasted time obsessing.  Do you want to choose to do the same thing in this moment?

4.     Forgive yourself for the misstep.

5.     Allow yourself a few moments to sit with the discomfort of regrettable behavior.

6.     MOVE ON, MOVE FORWARD.

I cannot emphasize the last step enough.  We waste so much time an energy.  Our time is so so so precious!  Moving on helps us to keep going and happily.