Never Be Ashamed To Say That You Have Made A Mistake, Correct Them, That Will Make You Wiser Than You Were Yesterday – Bob Marley
People inevitably make mistakes, no matter how hard they try. However, recognizing our faults is difficult, so we occasionally stand on our own instead of facing the truth. The biggest problem facing humanity has been how to apologize or accept faults. Why is this so? People who try to avoid taking responsibility and don't want to own up to their mistakes only make things worse for themselves since they keep making the same mistakes over and over without any room for progress or change.
According to a study, the frequent admitting of mistakes makes one feel better than denying responsibility. Scientists have found that people, who refuse to accept responsibility for their errors, suffer self-esteem, loss of authority, and loss of control over the situation than others who do. Some people don't ever repent because they feel that doing so would be like ceding control to someone else or showing their weakness and failure.
One of Bob Marley's most memorable quotations on the subject of being afraid to take responsibility for mistakes
Being rude to people is the worst aspect of a person's life or character, but pride and arrogance prevent them from saying "I'm sorry," instead tend to deny that they are wrong and find justifications for their rudeness. Your refusal to accept responsibility when you are mistaken demonstrates a lack of confidence. As was already mentioned, those who vehemently maintain their delusions genuinely feel like proclaiming their weakness; as a result, they continue to act the same despite their blunders.
This is the main issue in African politics, including that of my own Ghana. Even though corruption scandals reveal that the government has been stealing from the people, they never apologize because they believe it would harm the political party. Such behavior cannot be tolerated since it contributes to Africa's agony by fostering unemployment and poverty and impeding the development of improved facilities for the oppressed masses.
Refusing to accept responsibility for mistakes is more common among people with low self-esteem. The recognition of another person's mistake feels humiliating to them. They reject criticism from others, demonstrating in every aspect of their look that they are confident in themselves and that everything is going according to plan. This behavior is simply an effort to avoid looking foolish, as insecure people often go to great lengths to fool those around them into thinking they are firm.
Weak people never apologize or acknowledge their mistakes; a prime example of this is the present crop of politicians who are tearing the country apart. Strong people, on the other hand, readily admit their errors and are willing to do whatever it takes to fix them. Even when everyone around them recognizes that their point of view is incorrect, people who wish to appear strong will still defend it. This is one of the reasons I keep stating that the government that excuses its wrongdoing is the most dangerous.
People who can't handle failure, notably politicians, sometimes refuse to apologize because they fear their adversaries will make fun of them. If African leaders dare to apologize to the populace, they will be pardoned. For instance, how much will it cost Akufo Addo to apologize to Ghanaians for introducing new taxes after accusing Mahama of doing so? Instead, he will blame COVID and the Russia-Ukraine war since he is so arrogantly conceited and haughty.
As the world changes quickly, it is also having an impact on developing nations. This should serve as a lesson to African leaders about the need to be transparent to build good relationships with the populace because the inability to admit mistakes, similar to the fear of losing, becomes a barrier to communication with the people. Therefore; saying I’ve made a mistake or I'm sorry is nothing to be ashamed of because it might inspire someone to make better choices to help others.
Jimmy Cliff, the legendary reggae star from Jamaica, sings about the hollowness of foolish pride.
People who enjoy being cruel are sometimes so proud of themselves that they find it difficult or impossible to acknowledge their errors. They focus on their resolve and work to uphold the appearance of someone proud and resolute, but this is typically simply a front for an inferiority complex. In the end, even your closest friends and family members may decide to distance themselves from you because they are hurt and affected by your ego and arrogance.
Good politicians have to challenge their assumptions and consider other viewpoints to learn to acknowledge when they are mistaken. Critical thinking skills will only be advantageous to them as times and circumstances change. People who refuse to accept responsibility for their mistakes or who place blame on those around them are what we see in Ghana’s politics today.
Belgian‑Ghanaian journalist Joel Savage writes the column “A Mixture of Periodicals.” A former member of the Flemish Journalists Association, he has contributed to the Weekly Spectator, Ghanaian Times, Daily Graphic and The Mirror.
Disclaimer: "The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana official position. ModernGhana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here."