It seems like we all want to be perfect. Perfect grades, perfect body, perfect hair. We all want the gold medal in something, yet perfection is such a brittle and unachievable goal.
When someone criticizes us, or we make a blunder privately or publically, we feel as if we are less than we are. Sometimes we might be so embarrassed by our actions that we can't sleep for shame, or harbor feelings of self doubt that last for years.
How can we deal with our mistakes more productively?
The answer lay covered in mud at my feet. I picked it up and wiped it off and here's what I found;
It's an eraser with a basketball on it.
What it meant to me was that we need to be more playful with our mistakes. They are usually momentary events in time that we take more seriously than we should. Like a misspelled word that we rub out and rewrite, we can correct what was done and move on, letting go of shame and doubt.
As Morihei Ueshiba says:
"Failure is the key to seccess; each mistake teaches us something."
What are your mistakes teaching you?
The word "mistake" is interesting. It reminds me of the movies. Take one, take two, and with each "take" the search is for the dramatic action that works the best, It's not the one that's perfect. The takes that don't work are merely "mis" takes, that help the director find what the artistic action he is looking for. They are a productive part of every movie, and they can be a productive part of every life.
Even a sin is a "mis-take". Sin is an archery term that only means "to miss the mark"' yet we pile all this heavy moral weight on sinning, or being mistaken, or making mistakes.
Mistakes are really a result of our inner wisdom guiding us towards our true paths. When we miss the mark, or make a miss-take, that provides us with the information we need to begin anew and forge a result more in keeping with our heart's truth. Be playful about all this. Whoops, you made a mistake. Great! What did you learn? I'll bet it's something that will make your future shine all the brighter.
Love, Kristine
