[header] How to admit you've done bad things [title] Determine the extent of the damage. [step] It's important to understand exactly how bad a mistake is before admitting to it. If you underestimate the damage, you run the risk of coming across as incompetent or uncaring. 
[substeps] You may need to speak with a neutral third party to accomplish this task. This is particularly true if you've hurt somebody, whether physically or emotionally.