Learning from My Mistakes
Mistakes inevitably occur in human experience. We all make mistakes throughout our lives. Many of us use drugs or other vices to solve a problem. It’s a quick fix for some or what they feel is a long-term solution because it works for them at the moment. A short-term fix rarely ever works in the long run.
When I was seventeen, a problem arose in my life. I was young and did not have life experience in the matter. I had no point or reference on how to handle it. My father overdosed on November 11, 2005. I found him. He had overdosed in his bed during the night. I had school the next day. I never dealt with his death correctly. I was blindsided by grief. All anyone could tell me was I “would get over it in time” or “I am sorry for your loss,” thinking this would make me feel better. I refused to talk to anyone about it. So, I decided to go to the doctor as this was the only thing I knew people did in these situations. I was prescribed Xanax, and it worked, too well. Before, I was struggling with grief, but Xanax made me not feel any more emotion; I forgot everything I had ever felt. Almost like autopilot, I was going through the motions. The problem lies in the next day when the medicine wears off; all the emotions you left behind the day before it returns—all come flooding back in full force. You end up back at square one. This led me to want to take it immediately and take more to erase everything once more. There began the vicious cycle of forgetting everything I had witnessed.
This one problem in my life, having not handled it properly and going for the quick fix, led me down a path of thievery, deception, and ultimately to rock bottom. Drug use can lead to many negative consequences. However, working through the process of overcoming addiction can also catalyze personal growth. Learning from mistakes rather than avoiding them is the path to success. The significance of reflecting on the past and how doing so can help one make better decisions, grow as a person, and have a better future. We can learn more about our motivations, values, and behaviors by considering the effects of our actions and the reasons behind them. Through this, we can gain a deeper understanding of who we are and the motivations behind our decisions.
“I now use all of my life experiences to help others who have used drugs as a quick solution to their problems. I work at a rehab. I am living my best life. I never thought I would be able to
lead an everyday life again.”
We gain valuable experience by learning from our past errors. We gain a deeper comprehension of what functions well or poorly, enabling us to make better decisions from now on. We can actively seek to break these habits and make better decisions as we become aware of error patterns. While mistakes can be difficult, they also help people become more resilient. Recognizing and accepting our mistakes makes us more resilient to setbacks and helps us grow a thicker skin. Being resilient allows us to keep going forward even in the face of difficulty, which is essential for personal growth and success. I used all this life experience to my advantage. I acknowledge the fact that I had a problem before me. I took the necessary steps to solve the initial problem by handling the initial problem. I sought out help through counseling and rehabilitation. I now use all of my life experiences to help others who have used drugs as a quick solution to their problems. I work at a rehab. I am living my best life. I never thought I would be able to lead an everyday life again.
Matt G. Narconon Staff
