Embrace your mistakes. After all, your mistakes led you to where you are right now. Instead of dwelling on the past, learn to let go of what you can’t change. Letting go of the shame and guilt of those mistakes can lead you to where you want to be in your future.
Letting Go
You can’t change the past. When you make a mistake, admit you made a mistake, learn from it, and work towards building a healthier present and future. The urge for or blind belief in perfectionism can decrease your joy in life. Anne Lamott wrote, “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people.” The negative voice you use or the words you say to yourself are the enemies of your well-being. Release harmful emotions, and you can release your fear of making mistakes (FOMM).
The fear of making mistakes can, in certain situations, be healthy. However, when your FOMM overtakes your ability to interact with others or prevents you from achieving goals and dreams, you should find help overcoming your fears.
Overcoming Your Fears
If your FOMM paralyzes you, you can talk to a therapist. Therapy can help you recognize the potential in making mistakes. To work towards overcoming your fears, you can also remember that:
- Your success can lie in your failure: Every time you make a mistake, you can use it as a teachable moment. Identify where things went wrong and find a solution. Maybe the solution isn’t the right solution. Just keep trying until you succeed. While you’re working on finding solutions, give yourself a break mentally and physically. Spending time away from your project can increase your creativity.
- Mistakes can strengthen or create relationships: People can bond with each other as they share a common goal. You can share your thoughts and feelings with someone whenever you make a mistake. Maybe the person is going or went through the same challenge. A constructive conversation can help you generate ideas and friendships.
- Mistakes and necessity are often the “mother of invention:” Don’t put yourself down or stop trying. Remind yourself that you made a mistake because you put yourself out there and tried.
Mistakes aren’t the worst things that can happen; mistakes can provide you with an opportunity to learn. Ultimately, your mistakes can lead to incredible changes. Because of the positive possibilities in making mistakes, learn to embrace mistakes. However, if mistakes cause harm to your life, learn to make positive changes. The Guest House provides mental health and substance use disorder treatment. You can find your path to accept and move forward during your stay at our historical, private estate. Our location near Ocala, Florida, is where you can find success in your mistakes. Call us at (855) 483-7800.