Are you kind and compassionate, and see the learning for next time?

Or…

Do you beat yourself up for getting it wrong?

Ruminate on all the reasons people will think less of you?

Go over and over all the things you could (should) have done to avoid it in the first place?

Recently, I found myself sinking into the latter.

Let me set the scene.

I’ve added a lot of new systems into my coaching business over the last few months - online scheduling, payments, emails.

It’s a learning curve, and I’m doing it because it makes my - and the people I work with’s - lives SO much easier.

I’m all about making things simple and straightforward this year. It’s generally a joy…

…until I come up against something I haven’t done before and I can’t work out. Something outside of my comfort zone. Where I guess and hope for the best…

…and it doesn’t work.

I found myself in an downward spiral of ALL the unhelpful emotions. Blame. Embarrassment. Overwhelm. Criticism. Confusion.

Which led to ALL the unproductive actions.

Creating something, and realising it doesn’t work. Wondering how to fix it. Trying to fix it - too fast - and creating a mess. Panicking again.

Exhausting, and in no way helping me find a way forward.

Thank goodness I caught myself.

I noticed the post-it I have by my desk that says ‘Am I in the right mindset to solve this?’ and realised I absolutely wasn’t.

Took a breath, calmed myself down. Did a few jumping jacks to clear the energy. Sat back down, undid what I’d done, and re-did it.

Calmer, clearer, more productive. Solution focused. SO much more relaxing :-)

As I recovered from the experience, I could feel my inner critic wanting to get her big stick out and tell me all the reasons why I should have known what to do in the first place - and blame me for not getting out of it sooner.

I’m celebrating the fact that I caught the thoughts that created the unhelpful feelings, and replaced them with some useful ones - I’m learning, this is new. I can unpick this and redo it. It’s absolutely fine.

And to write this to clear it out of my system, before I took myself off for a hot chocolate.

When did you last make a mistake?

And how can you notice where your mind is, put down the big stick, give yourself a hug and celebrate the learning?

Wishing you all a great week,