When I was a kid, we played tag and liked to use the “no tag backs” rule; which means you couldn’t get tagged then tag that person right back. You had to go find someone else to tag. But how many times have we subverted that saying and adopted the rule of “no take backs” in life? Unable or unwilling to go back after a mistake.
Of course the ideal, in an ideal world, is to not make the mistake to begin with. Avoid rash decisions, or taking action until we’ve thoroughly explored the possible ramifications.
Avoiding Mistakes Is A Mistake
This is not an ideal world, and by definition humans are flawed.
But imperfection is not an impediment; the contrary. Imperfection is how we learn, grow, and can even hope to attain some measure of perfection in life.
The fear of a mistake may be worse than committing the mistake; and focusing on avoiding mistakes can result in unintentional self-sabotage.
“I’m An Idiot, Will You Forgive Me?”
I recently made a big mistake; began to focus so hard on what I didn’t want to have happen that I ended up making it happen.
I got all caught up in my own head and ended a relationship that had been going really great; then I spent the next 24 hours regretting my panicked decision and missing our friendship.
So I did the only reasonable thing and admitted to them I was an idiot and made a mistake and missed my friend. I let my vulnerability show and acknowledged my deep human-ness.
In this story I got what I wanted most in the moment; a revival of our relationship.
But the real value; I received further enrichment of our friendship as we both gained deeper understanding of the other person. And had I done “all the right things” I may have never had such an opportunity.
There are countless more examples I could use from my life; and we all can.
We Can Be Enriched By Mistakes
If we take the time to reflect on them.
See mistakes as opportunities, then pursue their development.
I work in technical support for a software company; and every day we are presented with problems to solve for customers.
Every day there is some kind of obstacle (or many); and while I wish customers didn’t face any I am also excited about each one they do.
The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.
Marcus Aurelius((The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius))
Why? Because every obstacle is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Improve the way we communicate information, how features and options in our product work. How our own assumptions about how a person would use our product may not be accurate. How each iteration((a new version of a piece of computer hardware or software)) can make the customer’s experience easier and more enjoyable.
And isn’t that what we’re after ourselves?
An easier, more enjoyable life.
What mistakes or obstacles are you choosing to make opportunities today?
