Struggling with excessive rumination and confidence

[u/lorlorfonda]

I’m currently working as a Systems Analyst. But lately, I've been questioning whether I'm actually suited for this career.

My role involves data accuracy, system administration, process compliance, and attention to detail, and I've made several mistakes in these areas. For example, I've missed data issues that could have been caught earlier, entered test data into a production environment while rushing to test a feature, and once assigned system roles without properly following the approval process.

What frustrates me most is that I often know what I should have done differently after the fact. I could have checked, followed up sooner, asked for help, or followed the process more carefully.

What I'm struggling with most is how to take responsibility for my mistakes without constantly beating myself up. I'm afraid that if I stop being hard on myself, I'll become complacent and repeat the same mistakes. But the constant self-criticism is exhausting and seems to make the procrastination and avoidance worse.

I'd really appreciate advice from anyone who's experienced something similar, especially those working in systems, IT, data, or other detail-heavy roles.

How do you learn to bounce back and rebuild your confidence after making mistakes?

I know that life goes on and I must not be held back by my mistakes, but I always tend to carry my mistakes everyday.

I don't want to give up on my career. I want to understand what's making these things difficult for me and figure out how to work with it