Psychology Today | 20.10.2026 06:47
Sometimes, the biggest mistake we can make is refusing to admit that we’ve made one. What could have been a minor misstep then becomes a much bigger problem, not because of what we initially did, but because of what we decided to do—or not do—next. One skill I try to teach, and hone for myself, is cognitive flexibility. When things aren’t working, look for other options. Even so, I’ve turned small mistakes into much bigger ones by not admitting them quickly enough. I’ve also felt the regret of knowing I should have owned my mistake sooner, all while letting the problem become more entrenched and making the hole I had to climb out of deeper.
