When You Keep Replaying a Mistake in Your Mind

When You Keep Replaying a Mistake in Your Mind

Self-criticism can make it harder to move forward after a setback. Here, you’ll find exercises to help turn self-blame into useful reflection.

After a difficult test, a project that didn’t go to plan, or a rushed decision, it’s easy to focus only on what went wrong. But putting pressure on yourself doesn’t necessarily help you find a clearer way forward. This blog offers a calm way to reflect on what happened: what led up to it, what was within your control, and what you might try differently next time. Short exercises and games help you separate helpful feedback from self-blame and turn the experience into a concrete next step.

Interested in this topic? Read more: Using Self-Criticism and Reflection to Enhance Learning and Decision-Making Want to find out where you stand personally? Take a short test at the end of the page and gain a better understanding.

How does this apply to you? Choose the answers that describe you best:

What is the most common way you approach decision-making in everyday situations?

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How do you react when you are not sure if your decision was correct?

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When the decision doesn't pay off, what troubles you the most about it?

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What feelings do you have when someone else points out a mistake in your decision-making?

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How do you usually evaluate your decisions after they have been made?

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When do you think it is hardest to be self-critical when making decisions?

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How would you react if you realized that you had ignored an important factor in your decision-making?

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How do you feel about assessing your own abilities in decision-making?

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How do you cope with feelings of guilt or doubt after making a decision?

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When you realize that your decision negatively affected someone else, how do you feel?

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Self-criticism in decision-making and developing the ability to be self-critical

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