There are times when our lives seem like firestorms – like great walls of devastation that close in around us as our mistakes catch up with us. There are moments in life when we put ourselves in situations that get us burned, and for which there is a definite and unavoidable price to pay. Our mistakes can be frustrating to the point where we not only suffer consequences at the hands of others, but also feel the torment of our own shame and sorrow. While it is important to recognize our wrongdoings and to correct them as fully as we can, there comes a time when we must all move beyond our mistakes. We must learn to let go of the burdens that weigh upon our hearts, so that we can seek after the enrichment of the goodness within us which exists beyond the fires and smoke.

Blame and Denial
It is never pleasant to have to deal with the consequences of our mistakes. At times it seems that the easiest thing to do is to pretend that they never happened. We live in a world where errors are frequently accompanied by pointing fingers of blame that give our blunders an undesirable amount of attention and scorn. At times, we punish ourselves with grief and shame that exceeds the contempt that could ever come from others. With all of the ridicule and grief that can result from our mistakes, it can be tempting to deny our mistakes, but doing so comes also at a price to our integrity and trustworthiness.

Taking Responsibility
Taking responsibility for our actions is something we must practice and learn over time. It is the mark of honor and maturity to stand for our actions even when we know they are not representative of the goodness and excellence that we strive for within. We must all realize that mistakes are a part of what makes us human, and denying them only holds us closer to the flames and heat of the firestorms that torment us. Accepting responsibility for our errors as well as our achievements is part of growing and maturing into the people we wish to be. 

Learning and Letting Go
The process of taking responsibility for our actions can be painful. It hurts to fall short of our potential, but all of us do from time to time. When we fail in areas that are of great importance to us, we sometimes punish ourselves with regret to an extent of extremity and duration that fails to work for our good. It is necessary to feel sorrow and disappointment in order to learn and improve, but punishing ourselves beyond our ability to gain wisdom is unnecessary and even detrimental to our progress. We must learn from our mistakes, but we must also learn to let go of them. We cannot control the past, and if we are unable to move beyond our mistakes, we will similarly have little control over the future. 

Forgiving
As we must learn to forgive others for their mistakes, we must also learn to forgive ourselves of our own, but what does it mean to forgive and forget? To forgive ourselves is to accept responsibility for what we have done, but to move  forward with our self-esteem intact. Forgiving ourselves is a stage where we move beyond our pain and regain our bearings in life.

Forgetting
Forgetting, however, is a concept that is not easily understood when it comes to improving ourselves. Forgetting is not to eliminate from memory the errors we have made, but to grant ourselves the comfort that allows us to learn from our mistakes and gain knowledge to improve ourselves. Forgetting is in fact remembering what we have done, but using our experiences to learn and aspire to do better. To forget is to utilize the knowledge that comes from prior mistakes to prevent the similar errors in the future with more prudence and wisdom of action. Forgiving and forgetting is the process of letting go of our pain and moving forward with greater knowledge.

Moving beyond our mistakes is a challenge we face throughout life as we face the firestorms of our errors. Facing the flames is never pleasant, but as we learn to take responsibility for our actions, we are able to learn and grow, becoming more resilient and ever more capable of withstanding the heat. It is the way we deal with our mistakes that determines how long we are exposed to the flames. By accepting responsibility for our actions, learning from them, and letting go of our sorrow we are always more prepared and able to move beyond the firestorms of our lives.

Related Reading:

Self-Discipline: By trying to be better every day, it is always possible to be the best we have ever been.

Being Your Best: Helping Others: The only way to be the best you can be is to be able to help others.

Controlling Thoughts: Mastering our Minds and Actions: We evaluate ourselves based on things we do, finding joy and regret in actions, while scarcely noticing that the driving force behind them is our thoughts.