Do you know the difference between making a mistake or a decision? We all make mistakes. They are a component of the human condition.
A man cheats on his wife, is discovered, and admits he “made a terrible mistake.”
An entrepreneur omits a portion of her tax revenue and tells the government tax services something similar.
A son deceives his mother and then admits his “error.” These examples, however, are not mistakes; they are poor decisions.
Selecting the incorrect answer on a test is a mistake; failing to study for that test is poor judgment.
The mistake was unintentional; the bad judgment was made on purpose—often without concern for the consequences.
It’s simple to disregard your poor decisions by reclassifying them as mistakes. It takes the sting out of the blow.
But it gets worse: reclassifying a terrible decision as a mistake absolves you of accountability, rendering it no longer your fault.
And it’s easier to accept bad decisions when they’re not your fault.
As a result, if you consider it a mistake, you’re more likely to repeat the same awful decision. By definition, such behavior is insane.
We may celebrate our mistakes (failure is frequently the way to success), and we can learn from our mistakes.
One example of a mistake is when you fail to charge your tablet, and now the battery is dead, preventing you from reading your book.
You decide to eat at a fast food restaurant while knowing it is unhealthy. This is a decision.
What Is the Distinction Between Making a Mistake or a Decision?
It all boils down to your intention and awareness. There are no mistakes, only lessons. This is significant because learning from a mistake allows us to move on.
It is also critical to know that you have the ability to change yourself and the outcomes in your life.
Although it is not always simple, especially if you are in a difficult circumstance, you can make efforts to repair your mistake.
When it comes to making a decision, blaming others or making excuses is essentially living in denial.
What Is the Difference?
A mistake can be defined as a lapse of judgment, whereas a decision is something you decided you wanted to do. The actual distinction is in your intent.
It is a choice to do something that you are fully aware of and know will cause harm to yourself or someone.
You made a terrible decision when you got in your car after drinking. That is not a mistake; it is a decision knowing you’d had too much to drink.
It is possible that you did something that caused someone pain that was not your purpose; this could be viewed as a mistake.
However, if you refuse to accept responsibility and clean up the mess you created, you have made a decision.
There Will Be Repercussions!
Plan on there being consequences when we make a mistake or make a decision. There may be unintended, but there will be consequences.
For example, back to getting into your car after a night of drinking. As a result, you could get pulled over by the police, fail the breathalyzer, and get arrested.
You endanger yourself and others and also face jail time, court time, a fine, the loss of your license, or a jail sentence.
On the other hand, if you use sugar instead of salt to season your vegetables and spoil the food, there is a financial penalty (however minimal), and you now have to start over.
Everybody makes mistakes!
Yes, we all make mistakes and make poor decisions. The good news is that we can learn from our mistakes and poor decisions.
It is our option whether or not to learn the lesson.
As we become older, maybe we will take control and learn how to make better decisions.
Mistakes, on the other hand, will continue to occur. Hopefully, not the same ones again and again.