How to Move On When You Screw Up

Have you ever had a text come in with an irritating issue you have to solve for? The kind that undoes something you’ve already put in place?

Something problematic (but not the end of the world) comes in, and you start the mental gymnastics to fix it.

Recently, this happened to me. A text sent me waaaaay into my head, climbing on to the internal hamster wheel to figure out a solution.

At that moment, my son Jack walked in the room - having no idea what was going on in my head or my phone - and DARED ask me a question!

Still, on the mental hamster wheel, I snapped at him!

My tone was harsh and my words were short & unkind. I dismissively spat out, "Jack! I can’t deal with you right now. Can’t you see I’m busy?!"

His eyes got wide & rimmed with water. Recalling the look of confusion and hurt on his face kills me as I write this.

His face crumpled. He looked at me and said, "What’s going on? What did I do wrong? How can I help?"

Which of course makes it worse, because now I’m truly an asshole. He did nothing wrong and he wants to help.

As a parent, I’m overly conscious of not snapping because it was something that broke me as a child. I never understood why my mom was always irritated with me.

Now know it had very little to do with me and everything to do with the world.

But as a kid, I didn’t get it. I don’t want to do this to Jack.

I’ve been intentional about it, but - DAMMIT - I’m still not perfect, no matter how I try.
I keep screwing up, over and over!

The best I can do? Be intentional. Notice the screw ups. Apologize & move on.

None of that can happen if I’m living in the past, blaming & judging. Nor can it happen if I’m living in the future, anxious & worrying.

What’s your particular distracting poison? Where do you tend to get jolted out of the present and into a space that doesn’t feel good for you?

Name it for yourself. Then decide how you want it to be next time. And move toward being that person.

It might be a small step, and that’s enough. In this season of overwhelm, busy-ness, and too much, the distraction factor is high.

But,  here’s an easy way to keep yourself in check: there’s still 4 weeks left in the 6-week Time Mastery Accountability Group!

It’s free & provides daily nuggets of resources to help you become a Time Master…Join us!

Xo, Jen

…And if you’d like to get through the holiday season with less stress & more time, join my FREE 6-week Time Mastery Accountability Group. Click below to join, and share with your friends & family!