Have you ever experienced 'the fear' after a night out or a random social situation?
If so, join the queue!Â
Embarrassing moments happen all the time – and have done for as long as people have been alive. However, the difference now is that we’re living in a time where smartphones can capture every excruciating moment of our mortification and potentially share it with others to view and poke fun at.Â
We all have awkward interactions from time to time and say things we regret, but it’s important to remember that some of our most embarrassing moments can make the best stories!
(It’s important to note the difference between an embarrassing situation and humiliation/public shaming. If you’re seriously upset about something, you need to talk to someone about how you’re feeling.)
If you’ve put your foot in it recently, here’s what you can do to remedy the situation:
1. Apologise
If you think what you said or did might have impacted someone else – make sure you apologise. Even if they are unaffected by the situation, they will appreciate that you are conscious of how your words and actions might affect them.
2. Own it
Sometimes, our minds wander or get distracted during conversations. Embarrassing moments can happen when you don’t pay attention or forget to ‘read the room’. Acknowledging your faux pas and explaining why it happened shows that you’re thinking about other people’s feelings.
3. Make a joke out of it
Some comedians have made hugely successful careers out of embarrassing things they have said or done. Handling an awkward situation with a sense of humour relieves tension and makes others feel less self-conscious and more comfortable around you. Laughing about embarrassing moments can be a great opportunity for connection. Being able to laugh at yourself, encourages those around you to release their fears of judgement and not take themselves too seriously. We’re only human, after all!
4. Learn from it
Take note of what happened to avoid embarrassing moments like it in the future.
5. Get back out there
The more time you spend dwelling on it, the more power it will have over you. Most people are too busy worrying about themselves and will have forgotten about it almost as quickly as it happened!
