We all make mistakes, a common saying, but have we truly considered its meaning? From childhood, we've been conditioned to view mistakes negatively. For instance, a mistake often resulted in a timeout, a spanking, or a scolding. In school, a wrong answer was marked with a big red check, reinforcing the idea that mistakes are undesirable.
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This mindset persists because we were taught that mistakes lead to failure, not success. However, we were seldom instructed on the value of recognizing and learning from our mistakes, which is essential for growth and improvement.
Recently, I made a mistake while working on a project aimed at helping our business succeed. After completion, I received a message stating the images I used were violating copyright. My immediate thought was that I had messed up and needed to fix it. I feared losing all the work I had done. Frustrated and upset, believing I had done something wrong; I was determined to let them know I hadn't made a mistake. So, I followed the provided links to dispute the claim. After several unsuccessful login attempts, something felt off. I searched the message online and discovered it was a scam.
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That's when I realized my actual mistake, and I was truly angry.
When I calmed down, I had to figure out what I needed to do that to stop the scam and prevent it from progressing. The more I discovered about what I needed to do to fix my mistake, the angrier I became. This time, I stopped and asked myself, "What am I angry about? Am I angry that someone thought it was okay to steal my information and money?" I realized that I was angry at myself for making such a significant error.
"I felt that I had let down the people who count on me to be successful."
"I had let myself down."
After some time, I realized that maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself. Perhaps learning from this mistake could actually help us succeed.
Realizing that this mistake wasn't a failure, but rather an opportunity I could use to teach and inspire others, was a turning point. I am not perfect; I make mistakes, but I am learning. The only way we can truly fail is if we give up. The mistakes I've made have helped me understand that I am not perfect, and I never will be. The illusion of perfection is something we all seem to strive for, but our perception of perfection is often skewed by societal teachings. We're told to never make mistakes, to fear failure, to avoid taking chances, and to suppress our true selves. In my opinion, this is wrong. Learning to craft my life the way I envision it will take time. Sometimes, even crafting five minutes of my day is a challenge. But if I can learn not to be afraid of making mistakes, I can learn to live a healthier life.
It is my choice to craft my life or to let life push and be made for me.
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