We all make mistakes. When we expect a lot of ourselves, sometimes we can get wrapped up in the pursuit of perfection. It’s great to aim high, however no one gets everything right on the first try. If we’re striving for perfection or even to be better, we need to be okay with making mistakes along the way. And when these mistakes happen, we need to own them.

Own your mistakes, admit when you’re wrong, reflect on how and why it happened, apologize if need be (to yourself and others), and move forward equipped to do better.

Feeling guilt or shame is a normal reaction when we’ve done something wrong. And these feelings are useful in so far as they inspire us to act differently. Spending too much time in guilt and shame undermines us. Negative self-talk is a slippery slope that can undercut our efforts at self-improvement, and discourage us from achieving what we’re capable of. If feeling bad about your mistakes discourages you from trying again, or pursuing something new, then you may be falling into a negative self-talk slump. Making a mistake doesn’t mean you’ll make the same one again, learning from an error doesn’t mean you won’t make more. The key to staying motivated to keep putting yourself out there is to understand that this is all part of the game. We set goals, we try, we fail, we analyze and accept, then we move forward that much the wiser. Oh, and did I mention, sometimes we even succeed?

Don’t let missteps take you off track. Know that if you make mistakes, own them, and learn for them, then you’re headed in the right direction. Growth and connection demand vulnerability, so don’t be afraid to make mistakes on the way to reaching your goals. We’re all imperfect, and the better we are at owning it, the more we can grow together.