How do I actually learn from my mistakes instead of just repeating them?

Patanjali understood something we often miss: mistakes aren't failures—they're data. The Yoga Sutras emphasize *abhyasa*, persistent practice with awareness. But awareness without reflection is just repetition. Here's what actually works: after something goes wrong, pause. Don't jump to self-blame or justification. Instead, ask three things: What did I intend? What actually happened? What would I do differently? This is what Dewey and Kolb called the reflective cycle—experience, reflection, conceptualization, experimentation. The key word is *experimentation*. You don't learn by thinking alone. You learn by trying something new, small, and specific. If you tend to interrupt people in meetings, don't just "listen better" next time. Literally count to three before speaking. That's experiential learning—your body and mind integrate together. Mastication takes time. Your nervous system needs to feel the difference, not just understand it intellectually. Practice the same lesson three times in slightly different contexts before you'll truly own it. That's how the mind actually changes.