When Our Best Falls Short

Isn’t there some universal truth that if we misstep, first, we hope no one notices? Next, we feel surprise (maybe), and shame or regret? But at the same time, we don’t necessarily see ourselves, or want to see ourselves anyway, as the one who’s caused harm?

Or is that just me?

If not, then how do we face what we’ve said or done? And how do we do that without making things worse for ourselves, and for those we’ve hurt? Maybe compassion and self-compassion are not so simple. Or maybe they’re simple but very much not so easy.