Making Mistakes

Sometimes we screw up.  It’s unavoidable but it does not have to become crippling or completely derail our goals.  The question is not, “When will I screw up?” The question is, “What will I do when I screw up?”  A couple of things are important to remember when recovering from a mistake:

1.   Get back on track ASAP.  
2.   Don’t beat yourself up.
3.   Learn from your mistakes.

If you recover quickly from a mistake, you won’t feel so bad about it.  It’s difficult to have regret when you do the right thing.  When it comes to health, sometimes a workout is missed, sometimes a birthday cake represents irresistible temptation.  Simply, move on.

Remember that self-talk shapes our self-esteem.  If you tell yourself that you are a bad person for missing a workout or for spending a little extra cash or losing your temper, it wears away.  I like to say that I am like an M&M.  Crunchy on the outside, and soft and melty on the inside.  I think most people have an interior person and exterior.  When you have negative talk, the exterior wears away and the melty part becomes threatened.

Lastly, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result defines insanity.  Learn from your mistakes.  Learn your shortcomings and compensate for them.  You can’t drive through the fast food lane daily and then expect to see good news on the scale.  You can’t sit on the couch and wish a heart condition to go away.

Take action!