mis-take: noun
1. an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc.
2. a misunderstanding or misconception.
Mistakes – we all make them. As far as I can tell, there’s no way around that little bit of truth, and quite frankly, that’s a good thing. As in so many facets of life, there has to be a balance in order to truly appreciate the entirety of any given situation. If it’s never dark, how can you begin to relish the light? If you’ve never been hungry, would you ever fully grasp the import of a simple meal? If you never fail, can success hold any value whatsoever? Likewise, making the inevitable mistakes in life offers an opportunity to take a closer look at our choices, and hopefully gain the wisdom to improve on those choices moving forward. The well-known concept of learning from your mistakes has been articulated many times in countless ways, and the sentiment is rock solid – you’re going to make mistakes; do your best to not repeat them.
“To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.” – Plutarch
We can talk at length about the fallibility of man, though no one has THAT much time. The mistakes that our species have made over the millennia have brought us to the precise place we find ourselves right now – continuing to make mistakes, often the same ones our ancestors have made in the past. The main problem with humankind is that it comprises humans, who as we know all too well are prone to screwing up. The upside to that equation is that humans are also capable of learning from past mistakes, and growing through that knowledge. Personally, I’d love to see more of that, but …
Some of the most significant obstacles getting in the way are things like ego, stubbornness, hubris, and an unwillingness to admit a wrong decision. Pride is a huge inhibitor to growth and understanding. My belief is that man’s biggest folly is in thinking he’s got it figured out. When I start thinking this way about virtually anything, I start to worry, and rightfully so. Once the prideful mindset is put aside, the door is opened to wisdom, but only as wide as we allow.
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
There are certainly times when playing it safe is the smart move, though this notion needs balance as well. If you never attempt to climb a ladder, it’s pretty much guaranteed you will never fall off of one. If remaining on the ground is your goal, congratulations on your low rate of failure! Sure, there are many folks who are comfortable in their safety zones, and that’s okay – for them. I am genuinely thankful for those individuals who are not afraid to fall and willingly get back up to try again; their example is a driving force of inspiration for me.
Where would our society be without the groundbreakers, innovators, and trailblazers that scoffed at the concept of a comfort zone, ignoring any notions of doubt as they forged ahead in their efforts? Can you imagine a world where great artists, writers, and composers created marvelous things only to hide them away for fear of failure? And what if inventors gave up after their initial prototype didn’t yield the desired results? Success does not happen in a vacuum, it requires a certain amount of failure, and there are typically no shortcuts along the way.
“You avoid making mistakes by gaining wisdom. You gain wisdom by making mistakes.” – Unknown
I remember hearing this gem uttered years ago, though I don’t know who it can rightly be attributed to. At the time, I thought, “Damn! That explains a lot!” The perception hit hard and true, for I was on the growth side of many recurrent mistakes and bad choices in my life. I was still making bad choices, mind you, but I was beginning to see the value of adjusting my course in life. In regard to mistakes vs wisdom, the realization that one begets the other is a valuable vehicle for growth if you allow it to be.
The more visible and/or painful a mistake is, the greater the value in making it. If I make an error while playing a song during a practice or rehearsal – a common occurrence – it’s obvious to me, and something I take notice of. That doesn’t preclude me from repeating the error, often several times. If, however, I make that same mistake on the bandstand in front of a crowd, it tends to stick with me, ensuring I’ll be more mindful the next time. When I do something stupid, and there’s no one there to witness it except me, that doesn’t make it any less stupid. The impact, however, isn’t as great as it would be had I done the same stupid thing in public.
I suppose the goal in life is to avoid making poor choices. That being said, when we ultimately backslide into doing just that, there is value to be gleaned from the pain and/or discomfort that comes with making a bad decision. It reinforces the notion of, Don’t do that, dumbass! We can try to ignore or hide our missteps all we want, but there’s no wisdom to be gained in that approach. Revisiting and closely analyzing our screw-ups and poor decisions is the most effective means to avoid a vicious cycle of repeating those same mistakes. As difficult as it is to look into the mirror at times, I wouldn’t want to live without one.
“If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.” – Tallulah Bankhead
Ignoring or denying our mistakes is not really a viable option. Even if it were, it wouldn’t be conducive to personal development, and, in my opinion, a sorely missed opportunity for growth. Never making a mistake would likely indicate a bland, uneventful life, and where’s the fun in that? Learning from the mistakes of others would be great, if only we were aware enough to pay attention to those lessons. Let’s face it; the pain of touching a hot stove is more memorable when you’re the one with the blister.
So get out there and try something new, and to hell with the prospect of success or failure. Climb that metaphorical ladder to heights you’ve previously convinced yourself are unattainable. When you do fail – and you absolutely will – pick yourself up and try again. The only way to completely avoid mistakes is to never live, and that would be a huge mistake.