Albert Einstein once observed, "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
Think about that. Mistakes get a bad rap, don't they? Since none of us is perfect, mistakes are inevitable. Yet, we are often our own harshest critic when things don't go as we had hoped. Why did I do that? How could I not have seen that coming? What was I thinking?
But as Einstein noted, anytime we reach beyond our grasp and try something new, we run the risk of failing. Think about where you'd be today if you never made that first attempt or took a risk at trying something new — that first time you tried waterskiing or golfing or traveling internationally or tasting Thai food or asking that person out for a first date. Your life would likely be less fulfilling; you'd almost certainly have missed out on what turned out to be a wonderful memory (even with the "mistake" or failure). If you never tried anything new or took a risk, you'd be less resilient, less strong, less determined, and less successful than you are — thanks to your mistakes.
As Irish author James Joyce once wrote, "Mistakes are the portals of discovery." Once we begin viewing our mistakes as golden opportunities to learn from and to acquire wisdom, we can move forward with a healthier outlook and an appreciation for these experiences. In today's parlance, these are "teachable moments." Yes, I made a mistake, but I also discovered something about myself and about life — and I am better for it.
I'd like to suggest something a bit contrarian and provocative: It's good to make mistakes. It's good to learn from them. Be kind to yourself and silence the critics on your road to self-discovery and progress.
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