Do You Learn or Do You Agonize?

One of the issues I find that comes up a lot in teaching and coaching in the fear of making mistakes.  We are so conditioned that it’s “bad” to makes mistakes that we forget that the word “mistake” is another word for learning.

It takes a committed person to realize that you must learn from your mistakes and see them as learning opportunities and “growing pains” if you will, rather than stewing and agonizing over them.  Remember that what you focus on grows, and if you focus on the fact that you made a mistake, rather than what you have learned from it, you can not move forward.

When I was growing up, I was terrified of making mistakes.  Mistakes in my family were not tolerated and were seen as failings, rather than a chance to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and jump right back in the fray.  I’m not sure if it was because I was an only child and the focus for my parents was to have the “perfect child” or what, but it has taken me years to accept that fact that I can make mistakes and it’s o.k.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes…when you stay in your safe home zone, you miss out on the chance to really start living up to your potential.  It is critical to remember that what you consistently think about and focus on is what you move toward in life.

Think about past mistakes or missteps; how have they helped you grow and what did you learn?  If you say, “Well I learned never to do that again!” make sure that it’s the misstep that you don’t repeat and not the goal!  Be persistent in maintaining your focus on what your goal is.

How do you deal with mistakes?  Is it a learning experience or a painful process?  I’d love it hear your thoughts!

All the best,

Danielle

The Toolbox Teacher