Jayne Whyte's Portfolio

On this beautiful sunny day, as I find myself in a charming spot somewhere in the North of England, my thoughts drift to the essence of life. The warmth of the sun and the peaceful surroundings inspire a deeper reflection—not just on the length of our days, but on how well we live them. While the span of life is undeniably important, it’s the richness and quality of our experiences that truly define our journey.

I have learned that a major indicator for measuring quality of life is the mistakes we make and our reaction to the many mistakes we make in our journey of life. Let me explain..

Mistakes. Everyone makes them. My big question for you is “How do you move on from your mistake?” Do you get on moving like it never happened or do you acknowledge it and dwell on it? If you decide to dwell in it, for how long? Do you dwell in it to learn from it? How do you share your learnings?

These past few days, I have been thinking about human relationships and how daunting it can be to move on when something no longer serves you or serves a particular purpose. I recently had a conversation with my dear friend, Hauwa about mistakes and how society has constructed our thinking of mistakes. A child gets beaten for forgetting his school bag on the bus and an average male, head of household finds it daunting to acknowledge that he got on the wrong train on his way to work for fear of being laughed at.

Hauwa and I talked quite openly about long-term relationships and how if a relationship no longer serves you, you should acknowledge that you made mistakes, and have learned, that you can get up and leave as it no longer serves a purpose. I am in no way saying this is an easy feat. I am only saying, it is okay to make mistakes. The purpose of a mistake is the learning that comes from it and your journey thereafter.

Over the years, one of the things I have learned from my job as an evaluator for Charities is that project implementers fear to acknowledge mistakes. They want to share their achievements and successes, but they fail to point out areas where they might have made bad decisions that affected the project. Project implementers shy away from this bit. This bit may seem insignificant, but it is a huge part of learning which is a fundamental part of being human.

Mistakes are a part of the human experience. But how we handle them can define us. Instead of dwelling on the past, let’s turn those missteps into stepping stones. First, acknowledge the mistake. Feeling regret or disappointment is okay, but don’t let it consume you. Learn from it. What went wrong? How can you prevent it from happening again? This process is crucial for growth.

Next, forgive yourself. We’re often our own harshest critics. Be kind to yourself. Mistakes don’t define your worth. You’re capable of incredible things. Finally, focus on the future. The past is gone. What matters is where you’re going. Set new goals, embrace challenges, and learn from your experiences. Every mistake brings you closer to success.

Remember, everyone makes mistakes. It is how you respond that matters. Let go of the past, embrace the lessons, and step forward with confidence. Your journey is still full of possibilities.

What are some ways you’ve overcome mistakes? Share your thoughts in the comments.