Learning From Mistakes Takes Courage
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” ~ Maya Angelou
I don’t know about you, but I’ve made more mistakes than I can count over my last 15 years as a caregiver. Yet, my goal is always to grow through what I go through and learn from those mistakes to help both myself and others.
So I feel like I manifest the quote above on a daily basis. I’ve also added, “I’m doing the best I can, with what I have, in this moment.”
There’s SO much I didn’t know when I morphed from “just a sister”, “just a mother”, and “just a daughter” to unpaid family caregiver. Looking back, I definitely wasn’t managing the stress of caring for someone I loved, and I most definitely felt lost and alone. I was desperate for resources, connection, and tools to care for myself while caring for others. I still wish I had the “secret sauce” for preventing caregiver burnout. (Remember, I’m a perpetual perfectly imperfect work in progress!”)
Acknowledging your mistakes takes self-reflection, which takes vulnerability (with yourself and others), which takes COURAGE.
3 TOOLS TO USE COURAGE TO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES:
Start with Small Acts of Vulnerability - Courage builds like a muscle—it strengthens with practice. As a caregiver, you can start by being honest in low-risk situations, such as admitting when you’re tired or asking for small bits of help. Each small step makes it easier to face bigger admissions later, like acknowledging mistakes or setting boundaries.
Reframe Mistakes as Growth Opportunities - Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, you can intentionally reframe them as stepping stones toward growth. Using reflection tools—like journaling prompts (“What did I learn from this?”)—helps shift from shame to self-compassion, reinforcing that courage is about learning, not perfection.
Lean on Supportive Relationships - Having safe spaces—like peer support groups, trusted friends, or mentors—gives caregivers encouragement to speak honestly. Seeing others model courage reduces fear of judgment and builds confidence to be authentic and vulnerable in their own caregiving journey.
Nurturing your courage as an ongoing practice will help you admit mistakes, learn from them, and prevent burnout through honesty, resilience, and connection.
It takes a tremendous amount of courage to admit to yourself, or others, that you've made a mistake.When we can adopt “learning from mistakes” as a mindset, it helps us reduce stress, avoid perfectionism, and stay hopeful. When we see caregiving as a process of continuous learning rather than an expectation of flawless performance, we can prevent burnout and sustain our role for the long haul.