If we learn from our mistakes, then why are we so afraid to make them? I saw this question and it really made me think. It’s an interesting question. Why are we so afraid to make mistakes when they teach us so much? Is it fear of the aftermath from the mistake or is it the insecurity of not being seen as perfect? We can sometimes be our biggest critic and we can take every mistake to heart. Some will equate mistakes to failures and if you make a lot of them, it might alter your self-esteem. I know that for me it depends on the situation. I can be highly upset in the moment, but months to years later I can see things differently. I remember one regret I had years ago. I was young and unaware of people’s true intentions. I was scarily optimistic and always thought everyone was mostly good and genuine (think Rose Nylund). I fell for a guy who was a smooth talker who displayed a great interview version of himself (as we say about people who show you their best qualities for as long as they can before the mask finally comes off). As a person whose love language is words of affirmation, I ate up everything he said. I used to always look at that particular relationship as a mistake that I truly regretted. I felt so dumb that I fell for all the BS that he was feeding me, but after a few years I stopped saying I regretted it. It taught me a great lesson that I applied to my life right after we ended our relationship. I was even able to recognize the traits in another person that I dated years after and was able to point it out and walk away from it.
We might go through challenges and experiences that we wish we could’ve skipped. However, if we actually apply what we learn moving forward it can really help us gain the wisdom to help us navigate through this crazy thing that we call LIFE. On the other hand, I will say that some people’s experiences are different. Some mistakes can have a massive impact on someone’s life moving forward. So, I could understand someone who might feel extra cautious about making additional mistakes because the errors they made in the past has caused them a monumental amount of trauma. That’s completely understandable. I guess I’m referring to the kind of mistakes you make that end with a clean break, and not something that you’re constantly reminded of every day of your life. As a person who recognizes that there are always exceptions to every situation, I understand if you’re on the opposite side of this particular plight. However, (for the most part) our mistakes help shape us to make better choices in the future.
With all of that being said, I think the majority are okay with making mistakes as long as our mistakes aren’t too costly. What exactly are we losing? And can we afford to lose it? There are some mistakes I would love to avoid, but I’m not going to pretend to be perfect. I don’t have all the answers and I don’t pretend to. We live and we learn, and if we never make mistakes how will we grow. Mistakes make us human and help us see the world through a gray lens. It’s how we can relate and empathize with others. We will never be perfect. All we can do is try to make the best decision possible and hope that everything will turn out right. It’s okay to be afraid, but don’t let the fear hold you back or define you. What’s that overused quote that people say: “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth.
JustGottaMakeIt 