How to Take Ownership of Your Situation after an Arrest

Getting arrested can have a tremendous impact on your psyche. Most people feel shocked, ashamed, frightened, and guilty about how the arrest has affected loved ones. But after the initial shock wears off, it’s time to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and figure out how you can best take control of the situation so you can move forward. Here are three key tips.

1. Accept the situation. What happened, happened. Resist the temptation to dwell on mistakes that led to your arrest or blame others for your situation. Instead, accept responsibility for those mistakes and commit to changing your behavior or attitude immediately. As Jocko Willink, former Navy SEAL, says in his book “Discipline Equals Freedom”: “The only person you can control is you. So focus on making yourself who you want to be.”
2. Avoid negativity. As you move forward, be sure to align yourself with those who will help you to become your best self during this challenging period. True friends will encourage you to avoid any self-destructive habits that may have given rise to the arrest and will support your fresh start. Those who can’t do that need to be cut loose–your future depends on it!
3. Use the negativity of the arrest to spur positive action. Adverse circumstances can bring some of the most positive results. Motivational speaker Eric Thomas was once a homeless high school dropout on the fringes of society. Eventually, he got his life back on track, going back to school and earning a Ph.D. Today, he is a pastor, author and motivational speaker who inspires millions. The secret to his success? “I used my pain to push me to greatness,” he says. Think about what you can do to turn your negative situation into a positive.

The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Razumich & Associates can help you take ownership of your situation and plot a strategic path forward. We can help you take back control: call us at (317) 983-5333.