You know that saying, “to err is human”? Well, it’s true. We all make mistakes – in fact, it’s likely that you’ve made at least one in the past day.
While we might not like to admit it, our mistakes are actually good things. They’re proof that we’re growing and learning as people.
We all naturally want to be perfect at everything we do and have zero failures when it comes down to it – but that’s just not realistic!
In this post, I’ll explain why making mistakes shouldn’t be something you fear or worry about when doing new things; why your past failures don’t define who you are as an individual or what kind of person you’ll become later on down the road; how forgiving yourself for these errors will help them become less of an issue in the future. And ultimately how if you stop being afraid of what could go wrong then you open yourself up to incredible opportunities to improve your life.
So let’s dive into why you shouldn’t fear making mistakes.
Why you shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes
The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.
Theodore Roosevelt
Mistakes are a normal part of life, growing, and learning
We all make mistakes. It’s a fact of life and it’s completely normal, but sometimes we don’t realize that.
We’re taught from an early age not to make mistakes because they’re bad, or something you should feel bad about.
Society has this idea that if you make a mistake, it’s embarrassing and people will judge you for it (even though most likely no one cares).
It’s time for us to break free from this way of thinking. Mistakes are a normal part of life, growing up, and learning new things. They aren’t something that we should be ashamed of – they’re something we need in order to grow as individuals, parents, or companies!
How mistakes help us learn and grow
Think of someone who has never made a mistake in life. It’s hard, right? That’s because that person doesn’t exist. And if by some miracle they do, then you are thinking of a person who takes zero chances and does nothing in life (although even doing nothing could be seen as a mistake).
So how do mistakes help us learn and grow? Well while this person who does nothing is busy not making mistakes, that person is also not living. They are 100% within their comfort zone and stagnating.
Making a mistake will highlight the way to not do something, and point you in the direction of the correct way. Analyze the mistake, learn from what went wrong, and then let it go.
They say that there is no substitute for experience. Why is this? Because in the process of mastering a skill we make thousands of mistakes. And we learn from each and every one. These mini-lessons build on each other and we come out on top. Better than we were before.
This is how we learn and grow.
Your mistakes don’t define you
Mistakes don’t define you. Your mistakes are proof that you are human, and it’s incredibly important to take a step back and realize that.
While failure can be difficult, it doesn’t mean that you are an incompetent person who will never succeed in anything else ever again (although believe me it may feel like this at times).
You aren’t defined by mistakes; rather, these moments should teach you about yourself and how far your capabilities go – and what areas of your work need more attention or practice before they’re fully mastered.
It’s okay to acknowledge that you made a mistake
It’s not only okay to acknowledge that you made a mistake, it should be encouraged.
The people who don’t acknowledge their mistakes are the people to be wary of. They will stagnate in life and likely try to pass blame to others. Avoid these people if you can … or point them towards this post.
If the prospect of making mistakes causes you anxiety, consider this: you are allowed to make mistakes, and your coworkers are allowed to make mistakes too. Learning from everyone’s mistakes is a benefit of working together as a team.
No one expects all coworkers to know everything at all times or be perfect at every turn. You will feel better and more confident if you can learn how to accept that everyone makes mistakes sometimes and learn from those mistakes so that they don’t happen again in the future.
Learn from your mistakes
You’re going to make mistakes. I know it and you know it.
The most successful people are the ones who have learned from their mistakes and used them as motivation to do better next time. Don’t let your own failures stop you from trying again, or allow yourself to dwell on those failures if they happen anyway.
If you’ve made a mistake, learn from it and move on – don’t let it hold you back or make you feel like giving up on your goals entirely!
I’ll stress again – learn from it and move on.
Whether or not Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”, it’s a strong and valid quote. Learn from your mistakes!
Forgive yourself for your mistakes
Forgive yourself for your mistakes. Move on. To dwell on a mistake is a certain way to bring yourself down and negate the benefits to be had.
You’re learning and growing from every mistake you make, so don’t beat yourself up! Mistakes are part of life – it’s what we do after those mistakes that matters most.
Once you learn to forgive yourself for your mistakes, then you can really reap the benefits of making the mistake in the first place. Forgiving yourself opens up your brain to the lessons instead of shutting it down as you chastise yourself.
Ask for help
If you need help or advice from someone who has been through similar experiences, ask for it. Asking for help can be a shortcut to learning from your mistakes.
We don’t always know something is going to be a mistake until we have made it. This means we often miss the chance to ask for guidance before we fall. But that means we have the opportunity to ask for help getting back up – when we are in the best place to really listen and learn from the other person.
Please don’t let mistakes scare you into not trying new things
You shouldn’t be afraid to try new things.
The world is full of opportunities, and it’s up to you to take them. But sometimes we hesitate because we’re afraid of what might happen if we try something new.
We worry about failing or making a mistake, or even just looking silly. And so we fall into old habits, even though they aren’t the best fit for us anymore.
If you’re feeling like your life is stagnating and nothing is changing, try taking some risks! It’s the best way to get out of your comfort zone and into an exciting place where things are moving forward – and not just in one direction either.
You’ll never know what incredible things will happen until you try something new. Never be afraid of failure or making mistakes as long as you are prepared to learn from them.
Conclusion
We’re all human, and we all make mistakes. You don’t have to be perfect and you can still do great things in your life.
Remember that if you don’t make mistakes then you are unlikely to grow and evolve as a person.
Don’t let fear hold you back from trying new things or pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Stop being afraid of what could go wrong. Just remember that the most important thing is to keep going and keep trying until you find what works for you.
Thanks for reading
Iain McClafferty – The Five Year Mortgage
