Some Things That I Have Realized About Myself

I have made mistakes. I have grown.
I have changed.

Facing the Truth

When we go through changes, we don’t always realize the mistakes we’ve made. Sometimes we only see them when someone points them out to us. Our first reaction is often defense. Why? Because we try to protect our ego, our character.

But the truth is, sometimes the ones who love us will point out things we need to look into. And it’s up to us to decide: either we accept our mistakes and work on them, or we ignore them and keep repeating them.

The Cost of Avoiding Our Mistakes

It took me a long time to realize this. I’ve always wanted to be better, but the mistakes that hurt me the most were the ones I tried to cover up so I wouldn’t have to face them. Not only did I do that, but as soon as I apologized and received forgiveness, I thought I could move forward.

What I didn’t realize was that I was hurting myself by choosing not to face the issue and try to fix it. What I broke was myself. Because I didn’t repair the issue, over time I caused myself even more pain.

That’s the hidden part about mistakes: saying sorry can bring temporary peace with others, but it doesn’t heal the truth inside of you. Real change only happens when you decide to face the problem, not just apologize for it.

Choosing to Change

The moment I decided to change was when I admitted that I didn’t want to be that version of myself anymore. I wanted to be truthful about the mistakes I had made, because there are always ways to grow.

Therapy and counseling can help us heal from past hurts and traumas. Forgiveness—especially toward ourselves—is another way. Growth also means making sure not to repeat the same mistakes, because trust has to be earned back.

Things can’t stay hidden forever. After repeating mistakes enough times, you will eventually want to change. But change means facing the pain you feel, sitting with it, and treating yourself with kindness. We’re human—we will make mistakes. But if we want to change, it will take time. It won’t be easy, and we have to be okay with that.

Reflections and Hope

I’m only speaking from my own experience, so please only take what feels right for you.

I share this because the choices we make shape our journey and our future. What worked in the past might not work in the future. But there’s always room to change, to improve, and to grow.

No matter where you are on your journey, there is always room to heal, to grow, and to become the person you truly want to be.