Mistakes Happen
Mistakes are typically associated with failure. But they can also birth possibilities.
Sometimes they are blessings in disguise. Just ask Melissa Rycroft. She’s the woman Jason Mesnick became engaged to on reality show The Bachelor, only to be embarrassed by him a few days later when he changed his mind in favor of runner up Molly Malaney. Mesnick’s “mistake” gave Rycroft enough notoriety to claim a spot on Dancing with the Stars (another reality show) where she danced her way to a finalist spot. I hear she even rekindled love with her former beau to whom she is now happily engaged.
Mistakes are great teachers, too. Judge Joe Brown testifies in the introduction to his court reality show Judge Joe Brown that it was his bad behavior (or mistakes) that led to the fork in the road which changed his future. According to him, he has his mistakes to thank for the position he now holds. Granted, there are easier ways to learn, but, for those who take that path, the results can be very effective.
Mistakes summon strength. I’m sure the Mickey Mouse Club audition rejection Jessica Simpson met at the start of her career left her wondering what went wrong. The loss of a big opportunity can be crushing, if not devastating. But, rather than waddle in her defeat, she chose to get better prepared; and when opportunity knocked again, she walked through another door.
And mistakes narrow the choices. The best decisions aren’t easily seen when in the midst of too many others. That’s when the process of elimination can be helpful. I’m sure we all have a story to tell involving a few trial and error moments when discovering what worked was as simple as crossing off what didn’t.
Of course, the goal is to minimize mistakes. After all, it’s the victor who takes the spoils. But since we know mistakes are inevitable, it would behoove us to know how to master them.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
What a timely post for me, Karen.
As I sift through my book collection, the latest ‘read’, touches on how we should deal with guilt, mistakes & regrets.
You’ve certainly highlighted the various faces who have benefited from a ‘mistake’, and yes, lessons in life that don’t come easy, but, lessons none the less!
“Learn from your mistakes, and move on.” In my case, losing our 1st house was a very good example, & truly taught me many valuable lessons….[too many to list here] and I promised myself, ‘never look back, look to the future’. I can honestly say, mistakes made back then, helped my spiritual life more!
October 20th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Good reminder, Karen. So many “tragedies” in my life have proven to be blessings. We should all accept life as it happens and keep a positive frame of mind.
October 24th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Yes! Mistakes are a necessary part of the life journey. Choices, both good and bad, pave our paths and I too believe that it’s the experience and then necessary correction of mistakes that take away the biggest lesson.
November 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am
I have made a ton of mistakes over the years, some small and many that were not so small. And, yes, I do try to learn from my mistakes so that I can grow and learn from them. One of the first parts to moving forward, however, is self forgiveness. I love the old saying: “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” That really helps me to get over some of my larger mistakes and concentrate on the road ahead. Great post, Karen, it really made me think!
November 1st, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Lord knows I’ve made my share. LOL!
December 8th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Ouch, that hurt. Reality check.