I was wrong.

I want to get better at admitting when I am wrong.

Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the snake, but neither one of them admitted that they were to blame for their actions.  I think admitting being wrong is one of the hardest things we can do.  Look at those who are in power or top athletes … awfully hard for them to admit they’re wrong.  And, those are the role models for our kids!

I was talking with a friend the other day and I asked him what happens when his girlfriend challenges him on something he’s done.  He told me that in those instances he will ask her to provide him with a concrete example – to take the emotion out of it.  He says that she is often right and it is the clearest to him when he can see an example.  He quickly added (interestingly enough, without my prompt) that he NEVER brings up her conduct (as a basis for his conduct) at that moment because it takes away from her feelings and what she is trying to show him.  Wow!  Can we clone him??

An old boyfriend was good at this.  One time when we were discussing an issue, he stopped in the middle of the discussion and said, “You know what?  You’re right. I’m sorry.”  I still remember that moment.  He was the kind of person who could almost always able step outside himself and admit when he was wrong.  I have a lot of respect for people like that.  (p.s. – for my regular readers, he was one of the Valentine’s exs!).

Remember, even in a situation where both parties are absolutely  sure that their version of the story is right, one of them isn’t.  Yet, we have difficulty stopping and changing course at that moment.

Admitting we are wrong is critical to any relationship – with your spouse, your friends and your kids.  Sometimes, we don’t even have to admit wrongdoing – sometimes just admitting that someone else (other than us) could be right, may be enough.   Always something to work on!