Mistake is Inevitable….

Mistakes Are Part of the Dues One Pays for a Full Life – Sophia Loren b. 1934

One summer afternoon, Harriet had just received news about a project she was leading. She had prepared and followed all the processes to complete the project. However, the outcome turned out to be an unexpected disaster.

“Where did I go wrong?” she asked. What did she miss in the process? She pondered as she rode the A train from Manhattan to Queens. The thoughts were pondering in her heart, but she could not get to the root of the matter. She was devastated and heartbroken.

Harriet had a lot of concerns; she was worried about not meeting her target, devastated about not meeting the deadlines, and, above all, her record of the best lead team was about to be displaced by this one mistake.

Then come the thoughts of unhealthy perfection, where we fail to give ourselves the same grace that we extend to others when they make mistakes. Harriet had checked through all the processes to get the project right. However, one of the processes was not completed, which caused the project to become late compared to the projected time to be finished.

Reviewing the processes, Harriet was reassured that although the mistake would cause her organization’s reputation to tank and create a negative impression from customers, it’s not the end of the world. However, it would cost her the title she has earned for some months, Best Lead Team Member.

“I am horrible,” Harriet said to herself.

“I cannot make it past this.”

“My career is ruined.”

Hush, Harriet. This mistake happened because you are working. It is a part of the dues for being alive and doing things. You just learned a valuable lesson that you can replicate in the next project to avoid such a mistake.

Unhealthy expectations of thinking that all will be rosy and dandy in life can bring on unnecessary anxiety, low self-esteem, and, in extreme cases, a bout of depressive thoughts. Take the lesson and arm yourself for the next adventure.

Mistakes are momentary setbacks and not permanent outcomes.

#OwnYour-Ish