Make that mistake
Studies show that perfectionism has significantly increased over the last two decades — and with that, a corresponding negative impact upon our mental health.
A key element of perfectionism is the fear of failure (and of believing that any mistakes, no matter how small or insignificant, are emblematic of it.) Within this worldview, mistakes are seen as proof that you are imperfect, will never be good enough, and are unworthy of love.
But, of course, this is not true!
If we take a step back, we can see that our past mistakes have often been blessings-in-disguise or powerful moments of transformation. They've helped us grow, redirected us onto better paths, or made us more compassionate people. They serve us.
In the moment, this can be hard to remember.
Here's one tool you can use to help. Try challenging your initial interpretation of a mistake. Let's be like the jazz great Ornette Coleman, who said, "It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something."
The next time you make a mistake, instead of saying, "I'm such an idiot, say, "I'm on to something."
That something? Knowledge, learning, improvement, achievement, impact, fulfillment, growth, and your own personal evolution.
