Thomas Edison may have understood the value of mistakes better than anyone. Edison tried thousands of times to create a light bulb before he was finally successful. When Edison was questioned about his long list of failures along the way, Edison replied, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
How do you respond when you make a mistake? If you are like most, you probably spend some time kicking yourself for your oversight or dealing with the embarrassment of “failing” in front of others. However, mistakes do not have to be a negative experience – at least over the long term.
When we understand the value of mistakes in terms of education and experience, we may be more likely to embrace new challenges on the horizon without the fear of “messing up.” We may become more willing to take the risks necessary to grow and evolve as individuals into the people we can really become. However, before we set out on that journey, we must put mistakes into the proper perspective.
What is a Mistake?
Mistakes come in many sizes. Some cause us a few minutes of embarrassment, while others affect our psyche over a longer period. Some we can easily laugh off, while others dwell on – long past what is considered a healthy length of time.
Mistakes are both public and private, and the public gaffes are usually the hardest ones to live down. However, treating mistakes as the learning experiences they are will help us take future flubs in stride and even use them to our benefit over time.
Mistakes vs. Failures
Many people see mistakes as failures. They think that a mistake proves they are incapable of a particular task. Mistakes can even begin to shape a person’s perception of themselves. However, mistakes are not failures. Mistakes are simply errors – errors that happen to everyone at one time or another. The first step to effectively dealing with mistakes is to realize that no one is exempt from the occasional gaffe. Like others before you, you can deal with your mistake positively and constructively.
The Truth about Mistakes
Now that you know what mistakes are NOT, let’s talk about the real characteristics of mistakes, which include:
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Some mistakes are actually good things because they identify potential trouble or breaks in a system.
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Not all mistakes are preventable, which means they would happen even if you had been more aware, smarter or prepared.
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Most mistakes are not as bad as you think they are, and the people that witnessed the mistake will often forget all about it in a day or less.
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Most mistakes can be fixed if you simply admit your error and take the necessary steps to make it right.
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The largest mistake you can ever make may be to avoid situations or people because of your fear of making a mistake in the first place.
Mistakes are a part of life, just like eating, breathing and falling in love. When we learn to effectively deal with mistakes, we can more readily see them as the learning experiences they are, rather than devastating events that make us question our abilities in life.
Dealing with Mistakes
To get the full value of your mistakes, take these steps the next time a gaffe comes your way:
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Acknowledge your negative feelings about your mistake. Some mistakes make us angry, sad or frustrated with good reason. Allow yourself to feel these emotions first, so you can work through your experience more effectively.
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Put your mistake into perspective. Any mistake can seem huge when it first occurred. Ask yourself what the significance of the error will be one day, week or year from now. This helps you put the mistake into the proper perspective so it is easier to deal with.
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Apologize for your mistake if necessary. If your error offended someone, offer your apology as soon as possible. If your mistake is something that can be fixed, take the steps to make things right once again.
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Learn a lesson from your mistake. Instead of becoming a hindrance, mistakes should go into our “experience bank” to make us better and wiser in the future.
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Move on. Once you have addressed your mistake fully, don’t beat yourself up about it. Move on to your next challenge and promise yourself that you will leave your gaffe behind.
Mistakes are inevitable, but they don’t have to get us down for long. By understanding the value of mistakes, you will be better prepared to take your gaffe in stride and use it to evolve into a more enlightened, experienced individual.
