The Willingness to Be Wrong

Do you know anyone who has a hard time admitting they were wrong? If so, they may be struggling with uncertain self-esteem.

No one enjoys being wrong or making a mistake, but in spite of what some folks would like you to believe, we all do it. In fact, the more venturesome you are and the less afraid of taking risks, the more likely you are to be wrong from time to time. But then what? How can you salvage your self-esteem when your pride has been shaken by a wrong decision?

Well, it’s not as hard as you might think. Try just simply admitting it. Say something like, “I made a mistake. Thank you for correcting me.” Or, “I was wrong about that. Next time, I’ll do better.” Even, “Oops – my bad” is better than trying to maintain the air of infallibility.

You see, by proudly proclaiming yourself to be a normal, imperfect, fallible human being, you give others permission to do the same. Believe it or not, you also make yourself more loveable. After all, while we may respect each other for our strengths, it is often our human weaknesses that are most endearing. When you are able to openly confess a weakness without making a big deal about it, you are honored by your humility and your dignity is nourished by your honesty.

It is only those people whose self-esteem is shaky, underneath an exterior pose of perfection, who have trouble admitting that they were wrong. So keep in mind that doing the right thing is always more important than being right, and when you’ve made a mistake, the right thing to do is admit it.