The Mindset Blog
The Power of Reframing: From Mistakes to Poor Choices
“Quit calling your poor choices mistakes. When you say something is a mistake, you are acting as if you have no control over a situation. A poor choice means you are accountable and responsible when your choices have negative ramifications.”
—Harry Petsanis
You’ve used “mistake” to describe unintended outcomes, thereby relinquishing responsibility. But what if you switched “mistake” to “poor choice?” This change shifts ownership back to you, emphasizing your role in these outcomes.
It’s more than a vocabulary change; it’s a paradigm shift toward personal accountability. You’re not a passive bystander, but an active participant in your life, shaping events, not merely reacting to them.
Changing “mistakes” to “poor choices” focuses on learning and growth. Labeling an outcome as a poor choice implies a better one existed, prompting self-reflection, identifying decision-making flaws, and planning for a more fruitful approach next time.
“Poor choice” implies ownership and power. It acknowledges that you are accountable for your actions and can learn from them. This shift isn’t about self-blame, but empowerment. It affirms your ability to influence your life’s trajectory. So, next time you’re about to say “I made a mistake,” consider the empowering alternative, “I made a poor choice.”
The shift from ‘mistakes’ to ‘poor choices’ inspires improvement, prompting analysis of past actions and application of lessons to future decisions. This is not about self-blame or guilt, but understanding that everyone makes poor choices and it’s the response and growth from these experiences that matter.
Shifting from viewing actions as ‘mistakes’ to ‘poor choices’ is profound. It’s about transitioning from victimhood to agency and growth. By doing this, you’re seizing the power to shape your life’s course, ready to learn and grow from every choice you make.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.