Have you ever spent time ruminating about your mistakes? Focusing on how you messed up, or worse, lost something near and dear because a personal mistake? The moment is past, but you are still jailer, judge and jury. You mete out punishment daily, and fully expect the world to offer the same.
Inviting failure back to live in your mental space daily is a habit. Good news! Habits were made to be broken. They are just a familiar reaction.
The question is…Do you want to live in failure forever? I’m quite sure the answer in a resounding NO!
I know the old adage, you can’t grow unless you failed a few time. Well I’m thinking that is totally bogus.
How about a new plan…
Avoid planning for failure:
1) Forget the past – it’s over.
Sure you’ve had your share of setbacks if you’re an adult. Don’t get stuck in that brainworm, endless loop place of instant replay. You know where you keep replaying the mistake and looking for ways to repeat it. Human’s make mistakes – release your need for making it right. Your brain is great at trying to solve complex problems. Failure isn’t complex – it’s simple and it’s over – let it go.
2) Know your path.
This is big – when you’ve decided on a plan. You will find it is so much easier to walk on the correct path. You will know where you want to end up. Then when you sense you’re off the path you will quickly loop back and get right back on the journey. Success feels right, fear and failure produce the opposite feelings. Big news – people have a limited lifespan. Do what makes sense to fulfill your destiny here and now.
3) Is this your mistake or someone else?
This is going to seem strange. Maybe the mistake isn’t really a mistake. Sure there are some biggies that people warn you about. Youth is famous for “doing it my way” thinking. Then something clicks later on in their lives. Maybe I should have listened to my parents, teachers, etc. I firmly believe you should try to follow the golden rule. Still in the end are you living your mission? I have found that many times a mistake is really another person’s disappointment you didn’t fit into their image or plan. You will still have to look yourself in the mirror everyday.
You shouldn’t go out of your way to lie, cheat, or steal from other people. The bottom line – you need to live your own personal mission. Be true to yourself, and most of all forgive your past mistakes. Seems pretty simple right?
