Learning from mistakes AND doing something different are both commitments not for the faint of heart. It takes you to the unknown, shrouded in mystery on what is next. Heavy stuff, huh? Read on.
Sometimes mistakes really hurt in all areas.
Physical: You assumed the food was cold enough and burnt your tongue. Silly me.
Emotional: You felt it will be alright then something out of the blue happens and you cannot sleep.
Social: You thought your friend is trustworthy but turned out to be the catalyst of a heartbreaking betrayal.
Financial: You regarded the money will be put to good use but came out to be an investment tumbling in the wind forever gone.
Mental: You thought you are stronger and wiser but end up crying in bed consuming tissues one after the other. From your perspective, it was a stupid decision.
You start asking yourself ” What is the point in this?”
Welcome to the wonderful world of The Outside of your Comfort zone. It is a place where you are not comfortable but you are growing. You will learn a lesson from it IF you pay attention.
Congratulations if the results were good! If the outcomes were not what you expect, it is such a shocker when you are in the moment. Bitter tears, heaviness in the chest, creeping feeling that it is too late, you just want it gone, fast! Nope, in reality, it will not go away that fast. As if time stood still and you just have to deal with it and face it. Cry if you have to but afterwards, it is time to ponder on what is the lesson you need to learn?
Here are the top 5 lessons majority of people will learn when committing blunders.
It clarifies your sense of self.
You made a decision that you will do this task and realized you are not cut out for it. You assumed that this particular job will make you happy, which turned out to be not your calling at all. The money is great but there is something that is eating you inside, there is that uneasiness that you cannot shake off. Deep within you, there is another job or business venture that will make you feel fulfilled. After much pondering, you realized THIS IS IT! My true self will thrive in this area.
Others will decide that they will shift from their present job to another. Some will stay in their current employment or some will start working on it. Look, I am not judging here. We are all on our own journeys in life. Your path is different from mine. All I wish for you my dear reader is may you choose an option that will set your true self free.
It reminds you to be humble.
You thought you knew but realized you don’t. Well, there goes the “I know” disease. When I was young, I heard the elders say, “I already know that.” I saw them as adults who are full of wisdom because of their experiences through the years. They have opinions on everything.
No matter how much the person is knowledgeable in their field, mistakes are still possible. It takes humility to admit when you made a mistake. Is doing something different like swallowing your pride difficult for you?
On a personal level, I tell my family, stories of my own foolish mistakes committed in the past and the lessons I learned from it. Sometimes, they become serious while listening, other times they giggle, surprised that their own mother was silly. They were embarrassing, humiliating, heartbreaking and sometimes what-was-I-thinking level mistakes. They are so educational, they are unforgettable. It is good that there were no smartphones during my younger years. No videos to upload ever.
It makes you THINK, really think.
You realized you messed up, definitely absolutely messed up. Your thinking cap is now on. Your mind is engaged to the question ” What will I do about it?” You sigh and drink a cup of coffee or tea and quietly reflect. You tend to grab the nearest comfort food that you can devour and eat away your feelings. It is unhealthy but you don’t know that because your mind is in the past or future.
” What are you going to do about it?” After moping around, you finally take responsibility and do something about it. Your mind considers possible solutions. It might not be the best but you are on the path away from the depths of despair. You feel so much better when you just carry on, carry on!
It strengthens your forgiveness muscles.
For mothers out there, this is huge and I mean a massive, enormous, gargantuan, big deal. You made a mistake. You made a mistake! Did I mention, you made mistake! Over and over, your self-talk takes you to a whole new level of mental horror. If you are not careful, it will take you down literally.
If you have a wise and discerning heart, it will take you to the direction chosen less by a lot of people – the forgiveness path. For some people, it is easier to forgive oneself followed by forgiving others or the other way around. For others, they will not forgive both at all! When you reach the point of forgiving yourself and others, there is freedom in it. The peace that has been elusive will finally reach your heart. For the first time in forever, you will find rest.
As you get better at this, every mistake you make becomes less of a struggle. It will trigger you once in a while (who doesn’t?) but you become more compassionate with yourself and others. You learn to love YOU both your strengths and imperfections.
It causes you to seek a Higher Power.
When all your human efforts have been exhausted, when you have been pushed to the corner of hopelessness, there is a God waiting for you to go to Him, all of you who are tired and He will give you rest. He is just one sincere prayer away. He created the universe, he can do something about your so-called mistakes.
In some books, they do not call it mistakes, they call it feedbacks. It does not matter what word you are using. As long as it empowers you to do something different that will solve your issues, then you are moving forward to something much better than before.
Doing something different based on your “feedback” takes you on a journey of living a much fuller life. Yes, some moments may be heartbreaking ( I shed a lot of tears) BUT you can say to yourself-
” Hey, carry on! They may criticize and attack you and your dreams. It is a reflection on them and not on you. However, the good you offer will make a significant difference in people’s lives. If it is the Lord’s will, it will be.
Wouldn’t it be nice to follow the mindset of St. Paul? ” I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
He did something different with significance and purpose in his lifetime. What will YOU DO with yours?
