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Sneha Iyer

Human Resources Executive,

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If you could correct one mistake you made in life, which would it be?

Some say how you deal with mistakes shows character. I believe, the mistakes we make, at least the big ones, leave a lasting impression.

So, if you had an opportunity to undo a certain action or deed that has influenced your life, what would it be?

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    Rewati Raman

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    Jan 23 2013: difficult question
    I know that I have done so many mistakes and I can't fix them in one chance .
    If I would be given a chance to rewrite my past and erase my one mistake
    " i should not be depressed that time . I should have think rational not emotional"
    because almost every mistake i have done due to being emotional
    I tried and trying to abandon but always all my logical decision (which are always right) lose the toss from my heart (don't know enough about it) that is the point where I do mistake or it happens
    so final ans is no emotion
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    Maaher Sayeed 10+

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    Jan 23 2013: The first thing to do is analyze and truly accept that it was a mistake. Next you need to have the courage to go back and undo or revisit and apologize, whichever is possible. But you have to do this for yourself, and if it will mean anything to you personally in terms of bringing you peace regardless of how the other person or event reacts to this effort.

    But the process of undoing a mistake or reconciliation is futile if one hasn’t learnt from a mistake and continues to repeat it.

    With regards to my mistake: I would not have apologized or tried to undo a particular event that I was falsely made to believe that it was my mistake.
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    Aaron Yang

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    Jan 23 2013: Wish i had taken more risks when i was younger, when stakes were lower, now it seems as if taking risks at 22, the risks get larger as you get older.

  • John Vieira

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    Jan 23 2013: Probably the biggest mistake I made was to listen to the voices inside telling me to not settle just yet, I should have been content with my life, but.....looking back at the time didn't seem mistakes, but rather a need to search for and fulfill something that was missing from my life. Unfortunately, I was not aware of it with my head in the sand (to keep it polite ;) .

    The hardest thing was to forgive myself, then life goes on and the world does not end. Everyone's makes mistakes, I am happy that the result was not all bad as I came across very important revelations that changed the way I feel about myself and others.

  • Nishi Shukla

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    Jan 19 2013: We learn from our mistakes..n also we dont knw sumtyms tht we are doing mistake and when v realised it was too late to correct it. Mistakes teaches us lesson and make us a better human being. I would choose not to repeat the same mistake.

  • Magdalena Schoeneich

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    TED AttendeeTED Translator
    Jan 19 2013: I used to say that I should have stop dancing and start school earlier (to make sure I am able to get a "serious" job and real a "real" life). I thought that I wasted so much times going after my dreams, rather than following the masses. Today I realize that because of that dream, I was exposed to much broader education than the one I would have earned by attending school (which I did, just later). I know many great people, I've lived in nine different countries, I studies one of the most difficult arts, and when I stopped I was ready to start something new, and exciting. So, I think the answer is "I would never worry about making a mistake" - even if we do make them, we learn from them so there is no point of worrying.

  • Fred Banks

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    Jan 19 2013: I would have studied for my six grade science test.
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    Sheila Guinn-Peters

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    Jan 18 2013: I would have risked more, tried more new things, approached things I thought were unapproachable. I missed many things for fear of making a mistake. Now that I am older, I see that making a mistake should have been the least of my worries.

  • cigdem cigdem

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    Jan 18 2013: are u sure u want to hear it ? :(

  • Random Chance 30+

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    Jan 18 2013: It would be not listening to the voice that told me to, "go down to that planet."
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    Gail . 50+

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    Jan 18 2013: I'm not quite sure, but I think that I would choose different parents prior to birth.
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    Jarmila Prokopova

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    Jan 18 2013: It´s difficult - answer for this give me next life. :)

  • dha Pandey

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    Jan 18 2013: I would replan and execute my career accordingly.
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    Linda Taylor 50+

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    Jan 18 2013: I would have married the other guy.
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    Michel Desjardins 10+

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    Jan 18 2013: None. I learned a lot from all my mistakes. I would have learned less otherwise and I would not be the man I am today.

    It's the moto of Quebec: "Je me souviens" (I remember).
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    Casey Christofaris 10+

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    Jan 17 2013: I would only choose to make better mistakes

  • Scott Koenraadt

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    Jan 17 2013: Not playing/ half assing sports.
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    Emily Ordover

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    Jan 17 2013: Smoking my first cigarette and deeming it a new part of my life while doing so.

  • Robert Vigerious

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    Jan 17 2013: Eh, sure there is.. It can't be spoken out.
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    Veronika Vajdová

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    Jan 17 2013: I am sure that if I started to think about all the things that I've ever done, I'd find lots of unnecessary arguments, rudeness from my side, overreactions, maybe poorly handled important conversations... and maybe I COULD find that one moment that I really want to change... Of course there are people I don't like, who don't like me, harsh words that hurt me, actions that made me sad, depressed.
    But then this one thought comes to my mind - Would changing this or that really make me a better person? Would I have met all these fantastic people? Seen these places?

    What I mean is, that if we more or less are content in the life we lead, I am not sure it's worth it. We may loose more than we can gain...
    And maybe by asking ourselves these kind of questions we somehow try to ignore the fact that all we need is to learn from our mistakes, reach inside and find the will to ask "HOW can I..." in stead of "What IF I..." :)
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      Fritzie Reisner 100+

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      Jan 17 2013: Wise words, Veronika. Perhaps we could even extend your last- that we might try asking "HOW can I..." instead of "What IF I ..." or (might I add?) "Why won't they...?"
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    GOWTHAM REDDY

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    Jan 17 2013: Mistakes are inevitable ...one must have courage and learn to correct them or move on !!
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    Chetan Somani

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    Jan 17 2013: I have made several mistakes so far and always try to find out what should i had done during that period that may have not resulted in the result that i had faced.but few mistakes are meant to happen and few are committed deliberately.

  • lynne skinner

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    Jan 17 2013: Now that I'm in my 50's, I would say the one mistake that I made over and over was repressing my own voice. Rather than face confrontation, pain or humiliation, I shut up. I have taught my children to use their voice. Even something as simple as saying "No."

  • specs 2

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    Jan 17 2013: It's certainly understandable to contemplate - what if?

    Some though think it's better to let things be.

    She's happy now ( I hope). Who am I to want to undo that?

  • specs 2

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    Jan 17 2013: It's a truism in Science that we learn more from our failures than our successes. If so, why undo the mistakes?

    But if I did have an opportunity to undo a certain action or deed that has influenced my life, it would be about a girl.

    Nuff said.

    "All in favor?"

    " Motion Passed!"
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    Robert Winner 50+

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    Jan 17 2013: On April 22, 1972 I believed that I made a faux pas. I would like to announce that I was correct and no faux pas occured therefore I have a unblimished record.

    My ego is restored. As soon as I learn to fake sincerity ... I will have it all.

  • Jane McDee

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    Jan 17 2013: FACT: I could not correct any mistakes I made.

    KNOWLEDGE: I know I need to learn from those mistakes and do not make the same on again.

    MAKING A LEAP: For me not to make the same mistakes, I would need to let go of my past attachment - to my ego. Transmute habitual emotions. Letting go of my attachment is a great challenge, some small success, so far.

  • Ben Jarvis 50+

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    Jan 17 2013: personally i'd like to test a few of them out and retain the ability to un-correct the ones that actually turn out worse if i hadn't made the mistake.
    we are all quite fallible and sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is to fail miserably. as well as the lesson learned and experience gained, it can save you from going down a path that only ends badly, even if the beginning has glittering prospects.
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    W. Ying 10+

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    Jan 17 2013: .
    I should have quit all my INVALID happiness.


    (For INVALID happiness, see the 1st article, points 1-3, 14, at https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D&id=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D%21283&sc=documents)
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