By Cynthia Freese the Booth Boss
We’ve all done it—carried the weight of our past mistakes like a heavy backpack, letting them define our worth, our confidence, and even our next steps. But here’s a truth that can change everything:
Your mistakes aren’t meant to be carried. They’re meant to be stepped on.
Instead of dragging them behind you, piling them up until they become roadblocks, try this: place them under your feet. Turn them into stepping stones. Let each misstep, wrong turn, or failed attempt become a platform that lifts you higher, not something that holds you down.
Mistakes don’t mean you’re broken. They mean you’re learning.
Think about how strong you’ve become because of the challenges you’ve faced. Every mistake taught you something—about resilience, humility, patience, or maybe just how not to do something. Those lessons are valuable. They build character, spark growth, and give you the tools to do better next time.
So here’s your reminder:
Stop replaying the moment. Stop wishing you could rewrite it.
Instead, repurpose it. Reframe it. Rise above it.
I’ve made my share of doozy mistakes—some that still make me wince when I think about them. But every one of them taught me something I couldn’t have learned any other way. I’m not proud of all of them, but I am proud of how I’ve grown because of them.
The view from the top of those stepping stones? It’s one you earn through experience, self-forgiveness, and a whole lot of resilience.
Keep climbing.
You’re not alone. We all stumble—but you’re still moving forward, and that’s what counts.
