Mistakes Shape Us But Don't Define Who We Are

All of us make mistakes. We are not defined by them but rather shaped by them. Teens are at a time in their lives when they will make lots of mistakes.

Science has shown that the brain chemistry of teens is going through a major shakeup particularly in the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is the primary decision-making center. No wonder they make their fair share of mistakes! On top of that, they are starting to get a taste of independence.  They are now making more decisions which naturally means there will be more mistakes.

What we do to rectify the mistakes we make is what defines us. Let’s say our teen fails a math test miserably because he decides to play video games rather than study. Instead of blaming the teacher or making excuses, he can own up to his poor choice. From there, he can talk to his teacher, apologize, and ask if there is any way to retake the test or get extra credit. Now he has gone from a seemingly irresponsible teen to a teen who cares about his academics and takes charge.

A more serious example is a teen who decides to have relations with a boy before she is ready. She might then feel ashamed and maybe helpless. She might even feel like she no longer has the right to say no to future sexual advances. She must realize that she still has the power of choice. She can say to herself, “I made the wrong choice, and I will not do it again until I am ready.” 

Owning up to mistakes and making sure our next decision is a good one is not always easy. We all make mistakes, but we all have the power and the right to move past them. The next time a teen in your life makes a major mistake, sit down with her and figure out what she has learned from her mistake and what she will do to avoid it in the future.

There is a beautiful song called “You are More” by Tenth Avenue North.  When you have a chance, listen to it here. For now, here is a taste of the lyrics. This is a religious song, but everyone can appreciate the underlying theme of forgiveness and moving past mistakes.

There’s a girl in the corner,

With tear stains in her eyes,

From the places she’s wandered,

And the shame she can’t hide,

She says, “How did I get here?”,

I’m not who I once was. 

And I’m crippled by the fear

that I’ve fallen too far to love.

You are more than the choices that you’ve made.

You are more than the sum of your mistakes.

You are more than the problems you create.

You’ve been remade.

-Tenth Avenue North