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Do You Learn or Do You Agonize?

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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

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Comments

  1. Michael says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    As I have grown up I have found it easier not to be intimidated by the possibility of making a mistake.

    These days I can easily count up recent mistakes that I have made in my business but have learnt from every single one.

    This also translates into failing as well as making mistakes.
    I set big goals for myself and use them to motivate me.
    The saying is to “fail big” because I have always found that you still achieve more than you would if you settled for smaller less exciting goals.

    I have the same practice in place for those local clients that buy into this idea and I guess you could say exactly the same about mistakes.

    If you fail to try and never makle a mistake, eactly how fulfilling will your life be?

    Be great

    Mike

    The Body Planner Blog

    Reply
  2. admin says

    January 25, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    Hi Mike:

    Thanks for the comment! I absolutely agree…if fact one of my “big” themes for 2009 is “GO BIG”…

    I mean, why not, move past the fear of “making a mistake” and just get on with it! Learn, grow, change, be the best “you” you can be:-)

    Reply
  3. Jaz'min, The Soci Girl says

    January 28, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    Thank you for this post. I am currently struggling from this same fear. I will take your advice and realize that this is all part of learning. I am also adding you to the links from my blog. Thanks again.

    Reply

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