In episode 119, “Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over”, we discuss practical tips on how to learn from past experiences. Training yourself and others to leverage lessons to be more successful in the future will help you become more mentally tough. We continue our book study mini series over Amy Morin’s 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Learn how to take back your power, embrace change, face your fears, and train your brain for happiness and success.
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The Negatives to Repeating Mistakes
At first, it seems silly that anyone would willingly make wrong decisions over and over. Think of it this way; do you have a bad habit that you can’t seem to shake or don’t want to change? Yeah, that’s included in the “repeating mistakes” realm. We are all guilty of making poor choices and then do it again. Even Paul in the Bible vocalized his shared frustration on the matter:
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
Romans 7:15
We have all felt this to some degree in our past. We have to actively make the choice stop repeating the cycle of bad habits and decisions. As you have realized through your personal experience, there are some pitfalls to making the same mistakes over and over:
- You won’t reach your goals
- Motivation disappears
- Problems won’t get solved
- Become more stubborn and impulsive
It’s important to not take on the negative identity of your mistake. With a mindset shift, self-control, and Jesus, your repeat mistakes can lessen. Tune into this episode to hear more details on how this can all be done.
How to Leverage Lessons
Don’t make the same mistakes over and over. In this episode, we go into detail on how best to do this. There is great power in reflection. Study the mistake in a way you are able to learn a lesson. Think about what went wrong, what could you have done better, and what will you do differently next time. We encourage you to take it back to the actual first misstep and correct from there. Sometimes this means trial and error until you can get the hang of it, and that’s okay! Keep working at it.
We recommend spending 5% of time on the problem and 95% of your time on the solution. Think through what is triggering you to make the mistake, and replace that behavior with one action that directly combats it. Again, we give examples in the podcast episode, so be sure to scroll up and tune in. Here are a few steps you can take to get you moving in the right direction:
- Positive self talk
- Keep goals top of mind
- Create a vision board
- Remove vices
- Have accountability
- Learn from mistakes
There is power in seeking wise counsel, having a strong inner circle of trusted friends, and verbalized accountability. In the event you need to seek therapy, we highly encourage you to do so. Contact your local church or your insurance agency to seek your options.
More Tips
With each of these 13 Things episodes, we close with what is helpful and unhelpful with the topic at hand. It is so important to acknowledge our own responsibility for our actions. Here are some more tips to help you not making repeat mistakes:
- Control what you can control
- Identify triggers in different circumstances
- Remove yourself from situations as needed
- Eliminate excuses
We hope you enjoyed “Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over”, and that you have practical, actionable steps you can take. Be sure to check out this entire 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do mini series (13 Things mini series) about a simple & proven way to become more mentally tough. You can do this! We’re here to help. Click the affiliate image below to get your copy of Amy Morin’s book.
