True Justice
“True Justice is paying only once for each mistake” – The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
When I make a mistake, disappointment washes over me, making me inclined to beat myself up about it. I repeat the story in my head, pinpointing places where I could have done better, and even resort to name-calling for not getting it right. None of these tactics are helpful. They force me to relive something unchangeable, essentially paying indefinitely for a one-time mistake. Negativity like this, allowed to fester, can convince my mind to accept it as truth.
Instead, it helps if I acknowledge my mistake. To myself or people involved. If I review what went wrong, looking only for useful information rather than to justify being mean to myself, I can find where I need to apologize or who I need help from, or how I can work better next time.
The more we acknowledge our mistakes the more we can accept and learn from them the less likely we are to repeat them.
Action: when something goes wrong today look for any small benefit or advantage that might come from the mistake. Did it reveal a blind spot? Force you to be more creative? Notice the lesson.
