What if I Mess Up?
Losing in an Olympic event would be feel disappointing, to say the least. Losing due to a technicality, when you had the best time and were expected to win, would be even harder. Losing a gold medal because of a coach’s mistake? Devastating.
That was exactly what Netherlands speed skater Sven Kramer faced at the 2010 Winter Olympics. As Kramer skated in the 10,000m competition, his coach, Gerard Kemkers, mistakenly waved him toward the inside track instead of the outside track where the skater had been heading. The coach’s error led to Kramer being disqualified from the race, even though based on his time he placed first and would’ve won the gold medal.
People wondered whether Kramer would be able to forgive his coach. Kramer himself probably wondered if he would be able to forgive. And even if he could, would the rest of his country be able to forgive this public blunder of epic proportions? The chief sports editor for the Dutch newspaper The Telegraph
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We have all made mistakes in our own lives. While ours were not likely scrutinized by the world as Kemkers’ was, many of them seem just as meaningful to us, especially moral choices. From lapses in judgment to ignoring our own ethical standards in the misguided pursuit of some goal, the effects of a seemingly simple moral choice can end up haunting us for years.
The result is that many people are saddled with guilt. The proper way to deal with guilt is not denial; but how can we continue to have self-confidence in ourselves despite our mistakes and moral failures? If you feel like you’ve really messed up, you may appreciate Peter’s situation. He claimed he would follow his mentor even to death if necessary, but eventually Peter abandoned his mentor (and best friend). Read about how Peter’s guilt and anxiety were assuaged.
If you are struggling with issues of guilt and anxiety, and need someone to talk with, please contact us to talk today. You will be matched up (confidentially) with someone familiar with your struggles who will reply privately to you via email.
