Public Spark

Making mistakes is scary.

As with anything in life, learning from mistakes and letting that be a stepping stone can make the difference between a successful person and not-so-successful person. It has taken me a long time to get over the fear of making mistakes. In order to complete challenging tasks or achieve goals it may be necessary to make mistakes and in doing so, learning from them. Igor Stravinsky once said, “I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge.” Similarly Abraham Maslow, the famous American psychologist states, “It seems that the necessary thing to do is not to fear mistakes, to plunge in, to do the best that one can, hoping to learn enough from blunders to correct them eventually.”

In an ideal world, one may think it be best not to make mistakes.

Everything and everyone would be perfect, like a utopian society written about in books such as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. But in reality, how boring would that be? Everyone would be the same, people will no longer feel happiness or satisfaction, there would be no incentive to strive for challenging goals, because there would be none.

School often teaches you not to make mistakes or that it is a bad thing.

We may strive for perfectionism. I have had many teachers that praised those that got “perfect” scores on tests and downplayed those that didn’t do so well. Instead of motivating them and helping them learn from their mistakes, I’ve seen many teachers close their eyes and let them slide through the “cracks.” I often wonder about the fear of making mistakes and how that can paralyze our true potential to be creative and take necessary risks. Famous virtuoso pianist, Vladimir Horowitz said “I must tell you I take terrible risks. Because my playing is very clear, when I make a mistake you hear it. If you want me to play only the notes without any specific dynamics, I will never make one mistake. Never be afraid to dare.”

“There is a certain degree of satisfaction in having the courage to admit one’s errors. It not only clears up the air of guilt and defensiveness, but often helps solve the problem created by the error.”-quote by famous American writer Dale Carnegie.

There is no doubt that making mistakes is painful. Perhaps that is one of the reasons people fear making mistakes. Furthermore, admitting them is even harder, but painful experiences can bring about insight and a more positive, fulfilling future.

All successful people have made mistakes at some point in their lives.

Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, once said “Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.”

Knowledge, experience, creativity, and mistakes go hand in hand.

“The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way”-quote by Dale Carnegie.

“Every mistake brings you one step closer to success”- quoted from my hero, my wise boyfriend.

It is learning from these mistakes and perseverance that will get you to achieve the unachievable.

Success can be achieved from making mistakes.

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president states, “The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything. Do not be afraid to make mistakes providing you do not make the same one twice.”