My titles don't related to what I have to say.

All humans make mistakes.
But the thing is, no matter how bad they seem, we can almost always overcome them.
I was thinking this today in the shower. No, I don't know why.
It's not the mistake ITSELF that has the power to destroy you--it's YOU. It's the inability to confront it, own it, and accept it as something you did. Reconcile it with who you are. Take it in and make it something that makes you stronger. And let it go. Move on.

I think I have a problem with that last part. Letting go. Moving on. I let my mistakes haunt me. It's hard for me not to constantly let it wash over me, pushing me down and down. To not get feeling hopeless and stuck and like nothing will ever be normal again. I've learned lately that if it's something I chose to do, I have to be ok with it. And I have to be ok with myself for making that choice, even if I've come to see it was the wrong one. I still fall into the trap sometimes, though...of blamign myself. And that's what does a hell of a lot more damage.
But I think some people must have a problem with the confronting, owning part too. Because if you just shove your mistakes under the rug, minimize them, or dissociate yourself from them, you can't really ever move on either...and worse, you're not getting the STRENGTH that comes with overcoming them. In fact, I think you're weaker for it.

I'm not saying you should just do whatever you want--hurt people, act immorally, whatever--and then just FORGIVE yourself for it without feeling remorse. Maybe it's coming off like that. I just mean...you can't let yourself slip into the endless cycle of blaming yourself and hating yourself when you end up somewhere you never thought you'd be.

I just think it's strange because it's so opposite of how we (or at least I..) think of mistakes in general. That what you do dictates where you end up. That's not true. It's what you DO with what you do...with the choices you make
The bottom line is this:
It's not your actions or your past or the choices you make that bring you down and do the damage, it's your ability to forgive yourself.
And if you can't find that ability...well, then I guess you've made the only real mistake you can make.