How does one move on from mistakes?
Here’s the thing, it’s known that we are supposed to learn from our mistakes so that we don’t repeat them. Isn’t this done by thinking about the mistake enough to know how I can do better from it? But how do I stop myself from then constantly worrying about making another mistake which could impact my work and my mind?
Dear @tryingtheirbest ,
Thank you for reaching out and asking such an insightful question. It shows a great level of self-awareness and a commitment to personal growth. Dealing with thoughts about mistakes can indeed be challenging, and it seems like you’re already taking a proactive step by seeking advice on how to move forward. Well done! 
It’s natural to want to learn from our mistakes to avoid repeating them, and you’re right that reflection is key to this process. However, it’s also important to find a balance so that you don’t dwell on mistakes excessively. Here are some strategies for your consideration:
Acknowledge and Accept: Understand that making mistakes is a part of life and an opportunity for learning and improvement. Your willingness to reflect shows your dedication to doing better already! 
Learn and Reflect: Take time to analyse what went wrong and what you can learn from it. This thoughtful approach allows you to grow without letting self-criticism overwhelm you.
Set Realistic Goals: Focus on progress rather than perfection. Setting achievable goals helps alleviate the pressure to avoid mistakes completely, fostering a healthier mindset.
Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness when mistakes occur. Remember, everyone makes them. Offering yourself empathy and understanding can help ease the anxiety of making future mistakes.
Manage Thoughts: When thoughts about past mistakes arise, gently redirect your focus to the present or future actions. Engaging in activities that bring you joy or fulfillment can also help shift your mindset away from rumination.
Rumination, or repeatedly thinking about past mistakes, can initially serve as a protective mechanism to prevent future errors. However, it often leads to heightened anxiety and self-doubt, which can hinder your growth and resilience. By practicing mindfulness and focusing on constructive actions, you can break free from the cycle of rumination and empower yourself to learn and grow from your experiences.
Embracing a growth mindset, where you see challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and development, can lead to greater resilience and success. Unlike a fixed mindset, which views abilities as static and avoids challenges to protect self-esteem, a growth mindset encourages perseverance and a belief in your ability to improve over time.
Most importantly, do make the time to thank yourself for trying your best. It’s normal to give our best shot and sometimes still miss the goal. Giving our best doesn’t mean we always need to get it right. Sometimes in getting things wrong, we may gain greater insights and possibilities then if we had gotten it right. For example, the world benefited from their mistakes:
Post-it Notes: In 1968, Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M, accidentally developed a low-tack, reusable adhesive that would later become the basis for Post-it Notes. The invention occurred when Silver was attempting to create a strong adhesive but ended up with one that only had a weak grip.
Artificial Sweetener (Saccharin): In 1879, Constantin Fahlberg, a chemist, accidentally discovered saccharin when he forgot to wash his hands before eating dinner. He noticed a sweet taste on his fingers, which led to the discovery of the first artificial sweetener.
Pacemaker: The modern pacemaker, a device that helps regulate heart rhythms, was invented by Wilson Greatbatch in 1956. He accidentally installed the wrong resistor in an oscillator circuit he was building, causing the device to emit electrical pulses similar to those of the heart.
I hope the information above has been helpful in giving yourself permission to be kinder to yourself and allowing more space for your humanity. If there’s anything else you’d like to discuss or if you need additional resources, please feel free to share. We’re here to listen and support you, because you matter! 
Take care,
Cool Breeze =)
hi, thanks for your reply. just also wondering, if I’m unable to break out of the habits that are resulting in me making mistakes, how do I move forward from this?
Heyee, you’re most welcome
Help me understand more about what you mean by ‘can’t break out of the habits’.
Are there any examples you can give me? 
sure, to give some context, i think the main issue as to why i make mistakes is because i tend to rush through my work either to complete it faster, or because i feel overwhelmed by how much of it i have. i’ve been doing my best as a result to double check what i’m doing, but a lot of the time i end up falling back into the habit of doing the work quickly just so i can clear it, and it makes it a lot harder to double check because i don’t realise i’m rushing and not double checking until the work is already over and submitted.
i’m not sure how to break out of this habit.
ps, I’m just a random person (not a professional) but I wanted to add that mistakes are completely normal, even the best people make mistakes too. Especially in the context when you have a lot of work, it makes sense.
seeing your username “tryingyourbest”, that’s already enough because sometimes, as long as we did our best, it’s okay that there are some mistakes 
Hi @tryingtheirbest ,
Thank you for sharing more with me, it was helpful to get a better picture. First there is nothing wrong with you and you’re amazing just the way you are even when you make mistakes.
To understand why this habit is really hard to break, let’s learn a little bit about how our brain works. Our nervous system has two main parts: the thinking brain (the prefrontal cortex) and the feeling brain (the limbic system). When we see a task as hard or challenging—a threat—our body responds to stress. This makes our thinking brain shut down for a while, and our feeling brain takes over. This can cause a fight-or-flight response, making us rush through tasks to finish them quickly.
To handle this, the first step is to give yourself permission to make mistakes. Help your body and brain learn that you are safe. Laugh and smile at your mistakes so they don’t feel like a threat. This can help calm your nervous system.
Next, try to have a growth mindset. A growth mindset means believing that you can improve your abilities and intelligence through effort, learning, and perseverance. Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, view them as chances to learn and grow.
Here are some tips to help with your homework and studying:
Prioritise Your Tasks: Break your work into smaller, manageable chunks and prioritise them. This can make the workload feel less overwhelming and help you focus on one task at a time.
Set Time Limits: Allocate specific time slots for each task and stick to them. This can help you pace yourself and avoid rushing.
Take Breaks: Regular breaks can reduce feelings of overwhelm and help you maintain focus. Even short breaks can make a big difference.
Mindfulness: Stay aware of your tendency to rush. Set reminders or use techniques like deep breathing to stay grounded.
Review Process: Make it a habit to set aside a few minutes at the end of each task to review your work, no matter how much time you think you have.
Practice in a Non-Test Setting: Regularly practise your skills in a non-test setting or use mock tests. This can help you become more comfortable with the material and reduce stress when it comes to the real thing.
Also, think about whether any learning difficulties might be impacting your work. If you think there might be, getting support or an assessment could be helpful.
Remember, creating consistent habits can help you maintain a steady pace and reduce errors over time. Aim to improve just 1% a day and slowly build up.
I hope the above has been helpful, try it out and then let me know how it goes. =)
thank you for your kind words, it means a lot 
thank you as well for the additional tips, but the work i was referring to was in a job 
but i will also keep these in mind because i start university soon
Heyee, you’re very welcome. 
I apologise for my assumption. Thank you for recognising that these suggestions can be used for university too. Remember, if challenges arise, reach out for support immediately; consider the university counselling support team.
Please don’t wait for the challenges to snowball. Give yourself a clean slate; you’re not the same person you were in school. Your starting point has shifted as you learn from past mistakes. As Nelson Mandela said, ‘I never lose. I either win or learn.’
All the best, we’re rooting for you! 
Hi
I have exact same mentality as you.
When i have a task, i will do it quickly. Like u said, will still do a check. However at times mistakes still pop up. Or i start to worry if there could be any mistakes…
all the best!! you’ll do great!