Accepting We Are Not Perfect- Part 1-Redefining Mistakes

In working with individuals struggling with a variety of issues and challenges, I am consistently reminded that the specific situation has importance, however, how a person perceives it and what he/she ‘does’ with the experience is much more crucial in the healing process. Many of us approach challenges with certain expectations and any outcome that falls short of those expectations we view as a ‘mistake’.  When we react to experiences in this way, we deny ourselves the opportunity to learn which prevents progress in our lives. 

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO HELP US REDEFINE MISTAKES AND GET UNSTUCK:

Look at the Big Picture- It can be helpful to broaden our perspective in a situation.  Whatever challenge we are facing or have faced, regardless of the outcome, is simply one small stepping stone in a sea of challenges that make up our lifetime.  What might seem to be a monumental disappointment in the present often loses some degree of upset over time.

Value the Obvious-  It is important to consider all of our current abilities, really recognizing the most obvious, like walking, speaking, writing sentences, calculating basic math, using a computer.  Not one of us were born knowing how to do these things.  It may be difficult to remember, but all of it required learning and the process, most likely, took time, effort, making ‘mistakes’, and then trying again.

Tap into Creativity- It is helpful to consider that many artists, inventors, and scientists accomplish breakthroughs and discoveries in their fields through trial and error and working with ‘mistakes’.  A perceived mistake can actually be a new way of doing something. Some very positive and lasting changes have been ‘accidental’.  Researching some of these changes can help us to redefine  our own ‘accidents’.  Consider Christopher Columbus’ plan to discover a trade route to the East Indies, which resulted in the discovery of the North American continent by ‘mistake’.  For more interesting discoveries, you can visit www.science.discovery.com and search for the ‘top ten accidental discoveries’.

In the next chapter we will explore tools that can help us to take healthy risks and embrace opportunities for learning.