I wonder what it is that we are protecting? The ego? If only we could just choose to ignore the ego, merely being amused by it at times. To let down the self preservation walls and choose not to react or be affected. Then mistakes or poor judgements just are, they carry no significance to us.
I still understand the dilemna of admitting mistakes, but I realize it is time to just let them be. What about you?
Admitting mistakes is just part of the problem. To me the bigger half of it is how to repair the damage caused from those mistakes to yourself and others. That is the hardest part I have found, remember you are dealing with other's egos as well.