Sometimes, it is a good idea to look at our past mistakes, to learn from them, so we can move on.
Winston Churchill said, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.”
Paul spoke with an optimistic voice. “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).
We need to move on from our mistakes. But first, let’s be wise enough to learn from them.
Writing for Forbes, Amy Martin suggests five ways to benefit from our mistakes.
- Acknowledge your errors.
- Ask yourself tough questions.
- Make a plan going forward.
- Make it harder to mess up.
- Create a list of reasons to succeed.
Recovery Step: Before you spend a lifetime moving forward, take a moment to look back. Learn from your past – then move forward.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
