I’ve played the bad and bougie role and ended up with a credit score in the five hundred range and materialistic items that I’ve either misplaced, outgrown, or couldn’t maintain.

I’ve sat in the side jawn seat and ended up with a broken heart and a belief that true love is only found in fairytales – I’m not a princess; therefore, I couldn’t be worthy.

I’ve drank excessively in a moment of celebration and ended up with a headache that didn’t respond to treatment and vomiting that couldn’t be controlled.

I’ve made mistakes!

The mistakes I’ve made aren’t as important as the lessons I’ve learned – the mistakes you’ve made aren’t as important as the lessons you’ve learned!

The trick here is to learn from the mistake and not harbor thoughts, feelings, nor emotions that cause you to spiral downward deeper into it. Not being able to forgive yourself limits your growth! Not being able to let go keeps you entrapped.

On more than one occasion mistakes will happen, that’s guaranteed! Some will walk away unscathed while others will have victory scars – both have a success story to tell!

Success takes a lot of work and won’t be achieved quickly. For me that process involved limiting my buying to items I need and can justify purchasing, severing a relationship that I’d grown comfortable with but couldn’t advance in, and recognizing a family disposition to alcohol intolerance – I still enjoy a nice cocktail but I know my individual limit and cut myself off before reaching it.

Pinpoint the mistakes you’re currently trapped in and write out a plan to free yourself from it. Make your steps manageable, something you can chomp away at day by day and start working on it tomorrow. Remember that to err is human so it’s likely that you’ll mess up again, don’t wallow in that moment.

Mistakes are to be learned from not lived in!