Accepting mistakes, knowing where you went wrong, and bettering yourself from it...

This is a topic straight from an experience I went through . Without details, as the message is what matters, the gist of the situation came down to an honest misunderstanding. Issue caught, issue addressed, issue fixed. A common progression for solving a problem but one we all struggle with, and if you're anything like me that very issue, no matter the severity, plays heavily on your conscious. So how do you accept a mistake and how do you make the most out of it?

The hardest part for me personally, and I feel many people can agree, is not knowing the other party's thoughts on the situation and inevitably their thoughts on you as a person. Regardless of your best intentions and honesty in error, other's can take it the worst ways. So you've got yourself scooped up in some twisted problem, you're the instigator (no matter with intent or not) and you feel you've failed yourself and those you work for/with.

How the hell do you get yourself outta this one and build from it?

Well, and it seems obvious, you have to realize the issue and confront it head on. Never, and I mean never, push it down deep and hope for it to go away. From personal experience isolating incidents and burying them away only leads to them coming up later on. You have to come to the realization that you made a mistake and that you and only you can fix that mistake.

Step 1: Realize and confront

Once you've come to the hard truth that you made a mistake then you have to apologize, and either receive the punishment allotted to you as a result of this misdoing or make appropriate amends having been given the opportunity to right your wrong and continue on a path that surely delivers you away from that mistake happening again.

Step 2: Make amends and accept consequences.

I think at this point we can all agree that steps 1 & 2 consist of the hardest things to deal with; Realizing it was your own fault and accepting consequence.

Now for the dessert, and like any meal, you can't have your dessert till you've finished your meat and potatoes. So steps 1-2 play the most critical role in this whole equation.

Set the example and stay consistent. Having made a mistake, don't now expect the problem at hand to blow off in the wind. Whether physical or not it is a red mark on your record. So reevaluate and determine what will make you a better employee/lifter/professional/player etc. Understand your fault and what you need to do better, apply it and become the example for others to emulate. This is a tough step because everyone gets a boost in self assurance when they've solved an issue and start being the "perfect" example, but find themselves tired and uninterested 2 weeks down the road because they didn't have a plan and never really bought into becoming better.

This goes back to confronting the issue. Confront your problems, devise a plan on how to be better, and stay consistent. If that means working 3 extra hours a week, then don't stop after 1 month, keep it going for the whole year and so on. Consistency remains the determining factor for success and progression.

Step 3: Be the example to emulate and remain consistent.

Ok so this all seems to apply directly to employment, but has direct implications in our journey's in fitness as well.

Let's look at it from the perspective of someone trying to lose weight. A common goal among most fitness practitioners.

Step 1: Realize and confront.

- Realize that you have weight to lose. Weigh yourself and confront the number on the scale.

- Confront: How much do you need to lose?

- Confront: The time and needs this requires .

- Confront: Vices and limitations that may stop you from losing this weight.

Step 2: Make amends and accept consequences.

- Make amends with your personal neglect for maintaining sufficient physical health. You fight your own battles, so if you're going to apologize to anyone for anything, it better be yourself.

- Accept the consequences: It is not going to be easy. Regardless if you are cutting for a bodybuilding show and it's year 8 of being an IFBB pro or you've just started your weight loss journey, it is going to be tough.

= Consequences: Long and monotonous work. You won't be able to jump straight into bar muscle ups and 225lbs clean and jerks. It might take years of progressively building upon each months mini victories to get to somewhere half of what you expect of yourself. If the journey took a month the whole world would be shredded.

- Consequences: Cost and time. Money can't buy happiness, but if being fit is what makes you happy then it's likely going to cost you money and time. You don't need fancy equipment or 1000$ programs. It takes consistency and putting away 20-60minutes everyday to better yourself. And investing in the tools that will help you reach your goals.

Step 3: Be the example to emulate and be consistent:

- Consistency is key, and I will always stress this as it continues to be the most important component.

- Be the example to emulate: This doesn't say be the sexiest, strongest, fittest. It says be the example. In the fitness world, those who nail technique, focus on their goals and their needs, and do it with both intensity and consistency are the ones to emulate. If you can do the little things day in and day out and continue to make small changes, then it is you who we should all emulate, not he who lifts 500lbs but feels like crap everyday because he avoids taking care of his body.

These 3 steps can be applied to any aspect of our lives in which we feel we lack. Weight loss is not a failure, but another bump in the road for many that can be tackled the same way one may tackle making a mistake in the work place.

Realize, confront, amend, receive consequence, devise a plan of action, become the example to emulate, remain consistent.,

Write them down and apply

"Progression is built through consistency and tested by Passion"

JB