Courage · 2 min read
An awkward moment does not have to end your attempt
You lost your place, asked the obvious question or made a clumsy introduction. Take a breath and continue. An uncomfortable moment can fit inside a worthwhile experience. Give yourself a chance to participate beyond it. The next sentence, question or attempt is still available to you.
A word comes out wrong during your introduction. You forget the point you were making. You arrive at a class and misunderstand a simple instruction. Your attention can collapse around that one moment until it seems to define the whole experience. Give yourself a wider view. You came here to participate in something that matters beyond a perfect entrance.
Handle what actually happened. Correct the detail if it matters. Ask for the instruction again. Say, ‘Let me start that sentence over.’ A simple recovery often gives the situation a way to move forward. You do not have to perform a long apology for being human, or invent a joke at your own expense to earn the right to continue.
Bring your attention back to the activity and the other people in it. What is the speaker explaining? What question could help you understand? What is your next part? You may still feel uncomfortable while doing something useful. Both can be true in the same moment. Give the experience enough time to include more than the mistake you first noticed.
Later, take any practical lesson and leave room for the rest of the story. You showed up. You recovered. You learned something or made a connection. Those details belong in your account too. Nobody can promise that other people will always respond kindly. You can still treat yourself with enough fairness to return to worthwhile opportunities. Let one awkward moment remain one moment, and keep your participation open.
Recover the moment. Continue the experience.
About this piece
Original STUDmotivation writing; everyday examples are illustrative.
Written to encourage worthwhile effort and positive action. Our approach and sources.