I like Dr. Robert Lustig of Sugar: The Bitter Truth fame. He's doing a wonderful PSA, Public Service Announcement, about sugar and its harmful effects in its refined state. I like him for another reason regarding the way he handles mistakes.
In the Bitter Truth, he asks then answers what one does when they realize they've made a mistake. His answer, "You admit the mistake then right the ship." I applaud him for his frankness and willingness to admit mistakes. Too few of us have that capacity.
For years I was told it was verboten to admit to making a mistake or saying that anyone else had made one. You don't do it under any circumstances because it is a career ender. Engineers to mid-level managers have said this. I never subscribed to it because I make mistakes and sometimes often. I've learned some of my greatest lessons from my mistakes. I wouldn't miss those for anything.
Not admitting to mistakes has always been a puzzling position to me. If you aren't admitting to mistakes, how do you know you're on the wrong path and need to change? For example, if I cannot admit that my sugar habit is bad, harmful, making me fat, causing migraines, causing brain fog, etc., i.e., is a mistake to eat, why stop eating sugar or sugary foods? There has to be a causation to produce action. The causation is admission that eating sugar is unhealthy ergo a mistake. The action: stop eating sugar.
I've seen many instances where this philosophy should be applied but isn't. If an individual, a group, or a company is making a mistake, admit the mistake and right the ship.
It isn't so bad and it makes you feel so much better.
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