This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Once you realize you made a mistake, immediately fix it
Perhaps you’re on a diet, and you eat a piece of pizza a buddy offered you at work. Since you already screwed up, you might as well max it out, right?! So you go and grab two double cheeseburgers and an extra-large fry after work!
Perhaps you drove to a restaurant to meet some friends, and you told yourself you wouldn’t drink and drive. You get peer pressured into one shot…. “Well f%ck it, right?” Might as well take a few more! Next thing you know, it’s midnight, and you’re driving drunk to get home.
Listen, my friend, we are all human, and we will screw up sometimes. But we still have a choice even after failure! We can stop RIGHT THERE and get back on track.
If you fail:
Stop at the first bite of pizza
Flush those drugs after that first hit
Pay your tab and leave after the first shot
It’s all easier said than done, but it’s still possible.
Continuing on the track of failure only puts us further away from our goals and dreams and can even lead to permanent harm.
Don’t get back on track tomorrow or next week! Get back on track RIGHT NOW.
Minimize the damage.
Don’t fail harder than you must. It’s not worth it.”
Philosopher Paco
The Interpretation
It’s common to push ourselves further into failure because we victimize ourselves and become overwhelmed with self-pity. In exchange, we abandon our productive habits for unproductive ones.
Naturally, we feel guilty when we choose to fail. Unfortunately, guilt and self-pity can derive dangerous feelings; if you’re not careful, your decisions based on them can cost you significantly.
Failures will come. However, there are many times when failure is optional and something we willingly choose to partake in because we think, well, I already messed up, might as well make the most of this break time.
When you relapse into a bad habit, it’s okay. Decide to get back on the horse and start over.
Starting over can suck, but the guilt and pity will dissipate once you get going again, and you’ll get your mojo back. Even better, this time, you’ll remember how horrible the feeling of optional failure feels like, and you will think twice before willingly jumping off the horse again.
Stop failing harder than you must. As soon as you make a wrong turn, don’t keep going; immediately turn around and get back on track.
If you’re moving in the opposite direction of progress, go ahead and make that 180° turn/decision and get back on the right train. It’s not hard; all it takes is one decision.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.