A Proper View of Mistakes - WAYS TO COPE WITH MISTAKES

Often, when mistakes are made, a person spends too much time and emotional energy apportioning blame or justifying what was said or done.  Instead, when your words offend someone, why not simply apologize, put things right, and keep your friendship intact.  Have you done something wrong and caused inconvenience or worse to yourself or somebody else? Rather than berate yourself or accuse yourself, why not simply do your best to correct matters.  To insist that the fault lies elsewhere will almost certainly prolong unnecessary tension and allow the problem to intensify.  Instead, learn, correct, and move on.

When someone else makes a mistake, however, it is very easy for us to react in a way that shows disapproval.  How much better to follow the counsel of Jesus Christ when he said: "All things, therefore, do unto others as you want them to do unto you."  (Matthew 7:12) When you make a mistake, even a trivial one, no doubt  you want others to treat you with compassion or even to overlook your mistake completely.  So why not strive to show the same kindness toward others? -Ephesians 4:32. 

Next time: A Proper View of Mistakes - PRINCIPLES THAT CAN HELP REDUCE MISTAKES 

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