The other week, I almost got scammed.
I was trying to fix a computer program, got super frustrated, and quickly called what I thought was a help line.
Except…it wasn’t.
Before I knew it, I’d invited some stranger onto my computer who was more than happy to “help.”
His so-called fix?
It would take three weeks and cost me $499.
Or (lucky me!) I could choose the faster one-week option.
For just $699. 😳
Thankfully, my gut was screaming by then, and I shut the call down fast.
But wow, as someone who considers herself pretty tech-savy, the whole thing really rattled me.
I kept replaying the scenario and beating myself up:
How could I be so stupid?
What was I doing letting a complete stranger onto my computer?
I should’ve known better.
The loop of self-criticism played in my head for days.
Maybe you’ve been there too…
🌀 Second-guessing yourself after you hit ‘send’ on an email too quickly.
🌀 Replaying a conversation, wishing you’d said things differently.
🌀 Beating yourself up for saying yes to something you knew you should’ve said no to.
It happens to the best of us.
Even though my “I can’t believe I almost did that” moment felt super cringey, it gave me a chance to pause and reflect.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stop beating yourself up over mistakes, here’s what I learned:
1) Slow down before making decisions
I made that phone call at the end of my day, when I was already tired, frustrated and desperate for a quick fix.
Key word: desperate.
That “false sense of urgency” made me rush into action and make a bad call (literally) instead of taking a few moments to pause, breathe, and ground myself.
2) Trust your intuition
Even on the call, something felt off.
The big red flag (besides the ridiculous cost)? When the ‘customer service rep’ refused to email me the details he’d just outlined. 🙄
Learning to trust your gut in moments like this is a skill — and it’s one we can all strengthen with practice.
3) Let go of shame and self-judgment
At first, I didn’t want to tell anyone what I’d done. I was way too embarrassed. Like, I’m a smart woman, how did I fall for this?
But here’s what I know after years of coaching women…
Shame grows in silence.
Sharing it with someone safe (a friend or trusted person) makes it lighter.
I told two good friends, neither judged me, and I immediately felt freer and more human.
Which made it possible for me to share my story with you today.
Cuz the truth is…
We all have moments where we ignore our gut.
Rush head first into things.
Or carry shame around like a backpack full of rocks. 🎒
But learning how to stop beating yourself up isn’t just about avoiding mistakes…
It’s about giving yourself permission to:
🐢 Pause and take a breath — allow yourself space before rushing decisions.
🌱 Trust your intuition — listen to your gut instead of ignoring it.
💚 Share and practice self-compassion — be kind to yourself and talk to someone safe instead of bottling up your feelings.
Because we’re all human.
Sometimes the best thing we can do is share our story with others, so it doesn’t “own” us.
And here’s the thing: learning how to stop beating yourself up isn’t about being perfect.
Or never making any mistakes.
It’s about having tools to slow down, trust yourself, and move forward without carrying all that self-doubt.
That’s exactly why I created my free guide:
✨ 7 Mini Practices to Strengthen Your Intuition ✨
So you can stop overthinking and start trusting yourself more.
Inside, you’ll find simple, doable practices to quiet the mental noise, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and rebuild self-trust — one small step at a time.
Here’s to catching ourselves before we hand over the keys — to our computer and our peace of mind.
Kerry xo