6 Reasons Why We Can’t Admit in Front of Others That We Screwed Up

Knowing we have done something wrong might not seem like a big deal for some of us. Though admitting it in front of another person can turn into a whole different situation. We can even create the whole drama trying to deny our mistakes. Interestingly, there are deep reasons behind this behavior.

Bright Side wants you to take a look at the reasons that lie behind this rather common, yet sometimes painful topic. We hope it will help our readers to improve themselves and their relationships with the people around them!

1. We are controlled by our emotions.

When we deeply believe in something or care about a certain topic, we might find it hard to keep our feelings about it to ourselves. And when someone else tries to persuade us that the opposite opinion is right, we might explode. Because our emotions are strong, we can sometimes find it hard to be rational and logical, even if deep inside we know that we made a mistake.

2. We can feel vulnerable.

Being the one who is always right can boost our self-confidence and even make us feel stronger. From another side, we can view apologizing as a sign of weakness. Another unpleasant emotion that can add up to this is a feeling of humiliation. Though, in reality, saying you’re sorry takes a lot of courage and inner strength.

3. We don’t want to seem unworthy.

This can be especially obvious if we have some authority and are in charge of a lot people. In this case, we can’t allow ourselves to make mistakes or show that we’ve made any, otherwise we might appear to be unsuitable for the leadership role we are in. But in reality, people might lose respect for a leader who refuses to acknowledge that they can sometimes make mistakes.

4. We are scared of responsibility.

Some people continue denying this because they believe in simple logic. If you don’t admit you have done something wrong, then you don’t need to take any responsibility for it. They might be scared of the consequences that their actions can cause. So, the only option they see is to hide it this way and hope for the best.

5. We are stubborn and don’t want to be the first to surrender.

Sometimes we can find it hard to admit because of our obstinate principles and our ego, even if they are illogical. We can be aware that we are wrong and that our actions might’ve hurt someone. But at the same time, we can’t even stand the thought of admitting it, because of an odd principle: we don’t want to be the first one to “surrender.” Instead, we prefer to wait for the other person to give up and apologize first, even if it’s not their fault.

6. We want to be perfect.

Our society can sometimes push us to be perfect at everything: in our looks, choices, and opinions. This thought can get stuck in our minds to the point that accepting our own faults and mistakes can make us feel insecure. This influences the people around us too, as we get stubborn and can try to do everything to appear flawless in front of them.

There are benefits to recognizing your mistakes.

• It improves your mentality: Accepting that you were wrong means that you have grown as a person and that your character has become stronger.
• You can learn a lot from it: Failures are necessary for us, as they give us important experience and help us to identify our strengths and weaknesses. By knowing our shortcomings, we can figure out how to correct them and move forward.
• You build good relationships with others: This way you allow the people around you to see that you can be compassionate and sympathetic, and that you can analyze your actions. Also, you show them that you are not perfect and need support from others. And they will be happy to give it!
• It brings trust to your relationships: When others see that you are honest with yourself and others by acknowledging your flaws, they will trust you more. In fact, they might even admire you for doing this, look up to you, and want to learn from you.

Bonus: How to learn to admit that you’re wrong

• Analyze yourself: To better understand your behavior, try to look inside yourself and find out the reason for your denial. You can make a list with different questions like, “Do I feel afraid?” or “Do I feel weak?” and try to honestly answer them.
• Ask others to help: If you find it hard to find the answer yourself, you can ask your loved ones to help you analyze the situation. Sometimes, others might notice your flaws way better than you do.
• Don’t be scared of critique: Make an effort and get your emotions under control when someone gives you advice on how to improve. Constructive criticism helps us to grow and helps us realize our “blind spots.”
• Work with a therapist: If you feel like this issue bothers you and others too much, and you struggle with solving it yourself, you can turn to a psychologist. Professional help can be a good guide to understanding yourself better and improving your life.

Is it hard for you to admit your mistakes in front of others?