Mistakes

I’ve lived most of my life trying not to make mistakes. Or at least trying to keep them small enough that no one really notices.

Sometimes I’ll even let someone else go first and make the mistake for me. That way I can learn the lesson without taking the hit.

No embarrassment. No consequences. No scar tissue.

Sounds smart, right?

Learn by watching others fail.

WRONG!

All that strategy has really done is make me worse at trusting myself. I hesitate longer than I should. I overthink decisions that don’t deserve a full committee meeting.

I stay in my comfort zone because at least there, I know I won’t screw things up too badly.

And that’s the trap.

When you spend your life avoiding mistakes, you don’t become careful, you become timid. You start treating every decision like it has the power to ruin your life. One wrong move and it’s game over.

Confidence doesn’t come from getting it right every time. It comes from realizing you can get it wrong and still be fine.

Still alive. Still moving forward.

Some decisions will absolutely be mistakes. No doubt about it. You’ll waste time. You’ll feel dumb. You’ll cringe later.

But some of the choices you’re currently labeling as “too risky” might end up being the best ones you ever make.

And you’ll never know which is which if you spend your whole life trying not to mess up.

So make the mistake. Take the shot. Be the example instead of the observer.

Worst case? You learn.

Best case? You surprise yourself.