We all fall into the trap of repeating the same actions over and over again, hoping for different results the next time. It’s easy to stick to familiar patterns, but real growth comes from examining our past decisions and learning from them. Ask yourself these questions to reflect on your past mistakes and make the right decision this time around.

What’s the decision I’m facing now? Clearly define the problem before jumping to a solution. A vague problem leads to an unclear path forward.

What’s stressful about this decision? Identify what’s making you anxious. Stress can cloud your judgment, pushing you to rely on habitual, biased thinking instead of exploring new options.

What past decisions can I learn from? Analyze past choices that didn’t work out. Pinpoint what went wrong and why. This helps you avoid repeating the same missteps this time around.

With 20/20 hindsight, what assumptions led to those mistakes? Look back and challenge the assumptions you made. Were you relying on shortcuts or untested beliefs?

How can I apply this learning now? Use what you’ve uncovered to inform your current decisions, shifting your behavior and thought process to get better outcomes.

We all have scores of decisions to make every day, and we often want to move quickly, telling ourselves that speed equals efficiency. But true efficiency sometimes requires slowing down, being mindful, and especially looking back at the decisions we’ve made that didn’t go as we’d hoped.

A mistake is only a mistake if we don’t learn from it. When we take the time to learn from past decisions, those past regrets and disappointments become stepping stones to a better future.

 

Reference:
Harvard Business Review (2024, September 25) Cheryl Strauss Einhorn: How to Learn from Your Mistakes and Make Better Decisions