I’ve heard it said that the biggest mistake you could ever make is being too afraid to make one. Mistakes are an important part of life, aren’t they? So why do we try to to do anything within our power to avoid making them? Wow, am I ever guilty of this? Sometimes I’m not even a fan of making the smallest of decisions, like where to go out to eat or what to order when I get there, let alone big decisions that will have a major impact on my future.

We’re each going to make plenty of mistakes over the course of our lives. And that’s ok. It’s to be expected if you and I are going to attempt to do anything. We’re human and a mistake-free life of perfection is completely unrealistic. Aiming for perfection does nothing more than drive out progress and keeps us stuck. If we’re making mistakes, it’s a sign we’re taking action, making changes, and trying new things. It means we’re pushing ourselves and changing our world. Mistakes also prove to be tremendous opportunities for us to learn significant lessons and grow, don’t they?

What is it that you are scared to take a step toward doing for fear of making a mistake? What stories or lies have you been telling yourself that you realize are paralyzing you from doing anything? What would it take for you to unfreeze yourself and to make a move? What if you and I started looking at mistakes, not as failures or regrets, but as opportunities to learn what doesn’t work and to remain flexible as we discern and make decisions for ourselves moving forward?