How to Never Get Stuck in the Past: Focus on the Solution, Not the Mistakes

You’re heading into work the next day, and your mind keeps drifting back to yesterday. You can’t shake the feeling that you made a “stupid mistake” — whatever it was, it’s so clear to you now, but for whatever reason, you didn’t catch it in the moment.

We’ve all been there.

It’s ok. No, seriously, it really is ok.

DON’T PLAY THE SAME PROBLEM ON REPEAT IN YOUR MIND! STOP IT!

I know, it sounds counterintuitive. We’ve been taught to reflect and learn from our mistakes, right? But here’s the catch: when we focus too much on the mistake, we don’t actually help ourselves move forward.

All we’re doing is reinforcing that error in our minds.

Why Dwelling on Mistakes Doesn't Help

When we dwell on our mistakes, we keep replaying the scenario over and over in our minds. We try to make sense of it, looking for reasons, connections, or justifications.

We think if we keep analyzing the situation, we’ll somehow avoid making the same mistake again.

But that’s not how the brain works.

Instead of problem-solving, we’re just digging ourselves into a deeper mental hole. All that energy spent on repeating the same thoughts could be better used on finding solutions.

The more we obsess over what went wrong, the harder it becomes to see the next step forward.

So, how do you break the cycle?

Focus on the Solution, Not the Problem

It’s all about shifting your mindset from a problem-focused perspective to a solution-focused one. You’re not going to erase the mistake from your memory — that’s impossible.

But what you can do is redirect your energy toward a productive, solution-oriented approach.

Here’s how:

1. Write It Out — All of It

Sometimes, the reason we keep replaying a situation is because we haven’t fully processed it. We’re trying to understand everything in our heads, but that’s a recipe for analysis paralysis.

Instead of mentally spinning in circles, grab a pen and paper (or open a document on your computer) and write out the details of the situation.

Start by describing the mistake.

What happened? What actions did you take? Were there any other factors — like stress or a difficult conversation earlier — that affected your decision-making?

Writing it out helps you articulate the problem and stop mentally “looping” in a way that leads nowhere.

2. What Would You Do Differently?

Now that you’ve written out the situation, ask yourself: What would I do differently if I could go back?

Unfortunately, we can’t hit "Control + Z" in life and undo our mistakes. But the good news is that you can learn from it.

Even if you can’t change the past, you can plan for the future.

Would you have responded differently?

Would you have taken a different approach in a meeting or conversation? Write out how you would handle it if you were faced with the same situation again.

While you can’t redo the situation, you can get a head start on preparing for future challenges.

3. Embrace the Inevitable: It Will Happen Again

The truth is, life (and business) is filled with mistakes. The likelihood is high that you’ll encounter a similar challenge again. And that’s actually great news.

Why?

Because practicing this exercise — identifying your mistake, understanding it, and thinking through a better solution — puts you in a better position to tackle future obstacles.

Think of it as training your brain to handle similar situations more effectively. The more you go through this process, the more intuitive it will become when the next opportunity to course-correct arises.

The Power of Clarity in Just 5-10 Minutes

You might be surprised at how quickly you can gain clarity from this exercise. Take just 5-10 minutes to work through it, and you’ll often find that the answer becomes clearer.

Sometimes, we’re too close to the situation to see it objectively. Writing it out helps you break free from the emotional cycle and focus on practical solutions.

It’s a simple but effective strategy that can make all the difference. In business, the key is not to avoid mistakes but to learn how to move past them quickly and keep your focus on what’s next.

Conclusion: Keep Moving Forward

You can’t change the past. But you can change how you respond to future challenges. By focusing on solutions instead of replaying mistakes, you’ll become a more resilient and effective leader.

REMINDER: every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow — as long as you focus on the solution and not the error.

So, next time you catch yourself dwelling on a mistake, stop.

Take 5-10 minutes to write it out, understand it, and pivot toward a better approach. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can move on, learn, and continue to thrive.