Recover From Foolish Mistakes

"Yes, even smart people do dumb things. Fortunately there are strategies that can help you recover from a foolish mistake," says Dr. Mortimer Feinberg.

Don’t apologize over and over. A simple acknowledgment and expression of regret are far more meaningful.

Accept that you can never completely erase failure. Face it - blunders and other embarrassing mistakes are almost always forgiven but not forgotten.

Don’t ratify your failure. Feinberg interviewed President Nixon after his resignation and asked him how he survived?" Nixon said, "No failure is final, unless you ratify it." The only one who can count you out is yourself.

Don’t go it alone. Turn for support to the people you trust the most.

Don’t wallow in self criticism. Accepting our faults, understanding them and determining how to move beyond them are important.

Source: Feinberg, M. (1999, July). Happiness - how smart people recover from their very stupid blunders. Bottom Line Personal, 13-14.