Everyone messes up, but when we do, it can feel dark and lonely.

Consider these relatable scenarios:

We've all been in positions like these. In this post, I'll give some guidance for recovering psychologically when you've made a preventable error like those described.

Many mess-ups relate to loss: the bowl we drop and break, the airline miles we accidentally let expire, the job interview we worked hard to get, then blunder.

We know from research on loss aversion that losing something we had already acquired stings intensely, even though these losses pale in comparison to opportunities we never pursue.

This insight can help you see that there are many ways to counter a loss. The job interview where you said the wrong thing is one lost path, but there are many more opportunities you've never applied for. The photos you lost on the memory card are dwarfed by the........

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