Admit it. You're lost.

It's easy to see that children lack certain overviews and understandings, and so they make many mistakes. But since they don't know any better, we can easily forgive them. At some arbitrary point, they become “old enough to know better”. Then it becomes harder to let their short comings slide.

We, of course, see the world much more accurately than anyone else, and so we should always know better. Harder still to not judge faults harshly. “Why didn't I see that coming?” “What was I thinking?” “How could I have been so stupid?” These, and other sentiments like them, have become mottoes for many.

To most, it's apparent that this is a very counter productive habit to develop and/or sustain. First, it serves to sully our mood and lower our self esteem. Additionally, if we cast our focus on berating ourselves, we distract ourselves from learning the lessons that life is offering us, in that moment. (As a result of our display of imperfection.)

If we observe from outside of ourselves, we can see that we really aren't all that much better equipped to deal with the uncertainties of living, than our children are. So we should expect mistakes out of ourselves, the same as we do with them. (Although, we'd hope, much less frequently.) Additionally, we should be just as patient and understanding with ourselves, as we under go our own processes of learning to live life.

We're all fumbling in the dark. Nobody can foresee the future. There is no instruction manual. All we have is our best guess. So, cut yourself some slack.

Admitting that you're as a child doesn't have to be heard with a negative inflection. When watching a child, we see them as full of potential with worlds to conquer and miracles to discover. We are beings of vast potential and infinite possibilities. Making mistakes is just a natural part of our process of evolution.

Learn and live, and yourself, forgive.