How I’m Learning To Embrace My Mistakes & Own My Strengths

At some points in my life, I’ve been a bad friend or family member. I’ve had employers who would say that they wouldn’t want to rehire me. I’ve been the person you’ve wanted to avoid in public because you know me. People often judge me on the mistakes I made instead of seeing my strengths.

Sometimes I still see myself through other people’s eyes. When my friends don’t invite me to hang out, I see myself as “disposable.” When a venue doesn’t book my band, I see myself as “talentless.” And when people tell me that I made a mistake, I think that I am a mistake.

I reflect on these moments often, trying to understand why I let other people’s perceptions define my self-worth. I realize that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities, and sometimes their actions are more about them than they are about me. This doesn’t make these situations any easier, but it helps me remember that I’m not alone in feeling down on myself.

When I do make mistakes, I strive to be a better person. I work on being more present and supportive in my relationships. I aim to be reliable, and yet I recognize that I’ll still make mistakes. However, I want to grow from those mistakes rather than let others use them to define me.

I care about everyone around me so deeply. I invest my emotions into how everyone I know is doing, even the people who didn’t treat me well. Furthermore, I hope that they accomplish what they want and that they’re happy.

My care for others is a strength, not a weakness. It drives me to be more empathetic and understanding. It allows me to connect with others on a deeper level, even if it means that people sometimes hurt me in the process.

As I become more aware of my strengths, I learn to see myself through my own eyes rather than through others’. I now appreciate my worth and recognize the positive impact that I can have on the world. Learning who I am is a continuous journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, but I’m committed to it.

In the end, I hope to be remembered not for my mistakes but instead for my efforts to improve, for my capacity to care for others, and for the love I strive to share with those around me. I am more than my failures — I am a work-in-progress, constantly growing and evolving.

Featured Photo by Priscilla Du Preez CA on Unsplash.