The voice that explains why it wasn’t your fault is very convincing. That’s its whole job.

The part of your mind that produces reasons is good at its work, and it does not care much whether the reasons are the true ones. It arrives quickly, it sounds calm, and it has the advantage of knowing exactly which facts you will find persuasive. Feeling convinced is therefore very weak evidence that you are right.

When a reason arrives fast and feels unusually watertight, slow down and ask what you would say if the same explanation came from somebody else. Look for the one part you would not accept from them. Your own share is usually sitting there.