Courage / Compassion
A note about learnings from my recent therapy session
I have been beating myself up over a mistake two months ago. I am hurt not only by the consequences of it but also by the collateral damage caused by it. What’s done can’t be undone, but the thought that I could have avoided it repeatedly haunts me whenever I have free time.
When I discussed my mistake with several people, many tried to console me by saying it was not a mistake or a big deal.
But the consequences of it are real. I don’t think I can gaslight myself into believing I am not responsible for my actions. It was a matter serious enough to be discussed with my therapist. The conversation leads to these learnings.
I am courageous to accept a mistake and sincerely apologise for it.
The apology's reception is out of my hands, and my job ends at the point where I have apologised.
Beating myself up for a mistake I made won’t help in any way, and I need to be compassionate towards myself.
It is also important to be compassionate towards the person not accepting an apology because they may not be able to see your point of view in their current mental state.
Courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin, I guess. And it’s high time I stop seeing myself as an infallible, righteous person.