It turns out size does matter! It's not the size of your faux pas, it is the magnitude of your reaction. Three times this week, I've observed some truly embarrassing situations. In two of the cases, the offender made a simple apology held their head high and moved on.

In the third situation, the faux pas was smaller, but the reaction was louder, less mature and accusatory. Which mistake do you believe will be remembered?

When someone handles a mistake with dignity, it is a simple reminder that we are all human. It's humbling and we instantly feel empathy.

Oh, but it turns ugly once blame and drama enter into the picture. If forces us to magnify the mistake, to look at it through a microscope and run the embarrassing moment over and over in our head. It becomes a mini movie.

Handling a faux pas with dignity lets everybody off the hook. It lets the moment pass and rids our observers of the empathetic embarrassment we all feel in an awkward situation. It takes the focus off of the awkward moment and puts it onto your recovery in the situation.

Spend some time today observing someone you admire. Chances are, they'll make as many mistakes as the rest of us. The difference, they'll learn from them, move on, apologize promptly when necessary and shake it off. If the faux pas is truly egregious, they'll write a note, send flowers or make a call later...what they will not do is make us all participate by standing around waiting for the moment to pass.

Today's affirmation, "I am in touch with my humanity and the humanity of others. I'll learn from my mistakes, quickly rectify the situation and move on. No slumping shoulders or averted eyes for me. I'm in life to learn the lessons not to add to the drama."