Don't let a big mistake, a failed job, a failed relationship define who you are. Those things are outside of you and they are just lessons. Some of them are really big lessons and some are smaller but still meaningful. I was reminded of my biggest mistake the other day and it caught me off guard. Then I was reminded that I just need to forgive myself for that mistake because it does not define me. A friend of mine recently confided that he doesn't like his job and listening to him made me realize that he is letting this experience define him as an employee. But it does not define him! I know who I am as a person and so does he. But we're both letting the opinions of others sink in and define who we are. Instead of letting these things define us, let's let them be lessons.