We don’t like being wrong.
It stings. It feels like we’ve lost some of our power, some of our credibility. As if admitting we made a mistake diminishes the strength of our vision, our mission, our drive.
But here’s the thing:
Admitting you were wrong doesn’t weaken your purpose.
It deepens it.
In a world obsessed with perfection, it can be hard to acknowledge when you’ve messed up — especially if you’re on a mission that matters to you. But the truth is, the best leaders, the ones who are truly moving toward something meaningful, don’t shy away from the hard truths. They own their mistakes.
And here’s the real magic:
Humility is what aligns you even more with your mission.
The Strength in Humility
Humility isn’t weakness.
It’s strength — in the form of courage.
It takes more to admit you were wrong than it does to stick to your guns out of pride. But when you can honestly say, “I made a mistake, and I want to make it right,” that’s a power move. It’s real, raw leadership.
When you show up and own your missteps, you demonstrate integrity. You show that you’re human — and that your mission isn’t about being perfect, but about staying grounded in your values through every moment. Every high. Every low.
Your Mission Is Not a Perfect Path — And That’s Okay
When you’re living with a purpose as big as yours, you’re going to make mistakes.
It’s part of the journey.
What matters is how you handle those mistakes — how you process them, learn from them, and keep your heart open to doing better.
There’s no shame in being wrong.
The shame is in not owning it, not reflecting, not adjusting.
Because when you refuse to admit your mistakes, you stop growing. You stop evolving. You stop embodying the mission you set out to create in the first place.
Humility Keeps You Aligned with Your Purpose
Here’s the thing: owning your mistakes actually aligns you more deeply with your mission.
When you mess up, it’s an opportunity to reassess, recalibrate, and do better. It’s not a detour; it’s part of the path. And when you show others that you’re not afraid to take responsibility for your actions, you gain something more valuable than pride — you gain trust.
People follow realness, not perfection.
People follow honesty, not ego.
People follow those who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable, to admit when they’ve done wrong, and to learn from it.
That’s true leadership.
That’s true purpose.
How to Say ‘I Was Wrong’
So how do we say it?
How do we admit our wrongs without feeling like we’ve lost ourselves or our mission?
- Acknowledge the Impact
Start by acknowledging how your actions affected others. Whether or not you intended harm, it’s important to own the impact of your decisions. - Be Honest, Not Defensive
Avoid justifying your actions or explaining them away. Simply say, “I was wrong,” and leave it at that. Honesty speaks for itself. - Show Genuine Regret
People want to see that you care about what you did. Don’t just brush it off. Own it, and show you’re truly remorseful for any pain or confusion you caused. - Make Amends (When Possible)
If there’s an opportunity to make things right, do it. Actions speak louder than words. Repairing relationships is often the best way to show you’ve learned and grown. - Commit to Change
The key is to show that you’re not just apologizing for the sake of saying sorry — you’re committed to doing better. Real change is the truest form of apology.
Your Purpose Is Bigger Than Your Ego
Your purpose isn’t about always being right. It’s about making a difference.
It’s about the work. The people. The lives impacted.
Being wrong is part of the process.
But staying wrong, staying stubborn in the face of growth — that’s not aligned with your mission.
True leaders understand that to stay true to their purpose, they must be willing to own their mistakes, reflect on their growth, and keep moving forward with humility. They don’t let their ego get in the way of their mission.
So say it — say “I was wrong,” and watch how it realigns you with your true purpose.
It’s the hardest, but most powerful, thing you can do.
