Why Making Mistakes Can Actually Be GOOD For You

It's a fact of human nature: We are all human and we all make mistakes. It's like the old saying goes "To err is human".

Our mistakes and blunders can cripple us if we let them. Fact is, we have all done things where we looked or acted silly and more. I think all of us can relate to having a list of things we wish we had "do-overs" on.

But making mistakes can be GOOD for you. I think sometimes we all need a reminder of that.

What you say? How can that about that which we wish we had a second chance on, the things that embarrass us to the point of putting our peppermint shoe in our mouth or wanting to slink under the carpet? Can that really good for us?

THE ANSWER IS YES, YES, YES!

Let me explain......

Since each of us make mistakes, it's the lessons and life skills we learn from them that make them good for us.

Making a mistake can teach us to have a sense of humor. It can allow us to be less hard on ourselves and far less self-critical than we tend to be. Most of us are harder critics of ourselves than others. Giving yourself permission to make mistakes actually frees us up to be willing to laugh - about life, about mishaps and even at ourselves.

Making a mistake in retrospect often allowed us to try something new or different that is out of our norm. Think of it as stepping out of your normal box if you will. When we do what is contrary to the normal, we are actually taking risks and trying something new. In that, we are not letting fear cripple us and that in itself can be a good thing.

Making mistakes allows us to be ourselves and be true to ourselves. Sometimes you just have to do so regardless of the circumstances. It gives us freedom to embrace our individuality without worrying what others will say, think or do.

Making mistakes is part of trying and failing. But in that, the good flipside is you took a chance possibly at pursuing your dreams, goals or passions. That is a good thing too.

Making mistakes and moving beyond them actually is liberating in that it gives you the option of becoming a leader instead of a follower.

Today I find myself reflecting on these thoughts as I ran across a great article that addresses just such subject matter. I found myself having an "Aha" moment as I realized that the long list of mistakes I made actually made me more of who I am today. I find myself being okay with being far-from-perfect and knowing that mistakes are just a part of life. But what we do as a result can actually be GOOD for us. Now isn't that a great thought for today?

Here's the article for you and it's a pretty quick read. You'll find yourself realizing as I did that mistakes can be good for you:
5 MISTAKES EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE