50 Funny Ways People Learned Their Lesson

Some of life's toughest lessons aren't taught in class but by the giant mistakes we make along the way in the School of Hard Knocks. Some blunders are silly, laughable or cringeworthy. Others can be costly and even dangerous. Either way, they teach us something, provided we are open to learning the lesson.

Mistakes are a part of life, whether we like them or not. And they're not all bad. "The key is to acknowledge when you make a mistake, learn from it and move on — to understand that failure and mistakes are opportunities for learning, feedback and even creativity," explains Forbes magazine.

Embracing your mistakes might sound easier said than done. But it is possible... According to leadership coach Dede Henley. The first step, says the expert, is to name it, learn something and move on. She says as long as you learn from your mistakes and don't repeat them, you're on the right track.

"Think back to some of the 'failures' you’ve had in the past. Didn’t you learn a lot? Can you apply what you’ve learned in this current situation?" writes Henley. "Although, to truly learn, you may need some distance from the big emotions of a failure to be able to think and see straight."

Henley adds that you should be aware of defensiveness. "Defensiveness is a natural but sure sign of a closed mind in the wake of a mistake, and a closed mind isn’t going to help you learn anything," she warns.

The expert's advice is to notice when you feel defensive and take a breath. Then ask yourself: "What are you trying to defend?" "What are you afraid will or won’t happen?"

It also helps to laugh it off. "Humor can help reduce stress, improve your mood and enhance your performance. Humor helps you bond with others who might share your frustrations and circumstances," Henley explains.

Though she says you may have to distract yourself from the problem at hand in order to find the funny in it... and that's okay. Obsessing over your mistake isn't helpful and won't change the situation.