Shecky’s

Sure,  making mistakes can be a major bummer and can sometimes be costly, but if you look at mistakes as opportunities, what we get out of them can be worth every uncomfortable moment! The ever-fab Sophia Loren once said, “Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.” In other words, if you’re out there living, making things happen and going after what you want, occasional screw-ups are all part of the deal!

Image credit: zoeticgeek.com

When it comes to making mistakes, consider these three things:

1) Sometimes happy accidents come from mistakes.
Even some major contributions to humanity started out as mistakes—bread, penicillin, even coffee (and yes, I do consider coffee a major contribution to humanity!). So, when a mistake happens, examine the result that it produced. You could discover something awesome.

For instance, I once sent out an important email blast a day early by mistake. At first, I was frustrated because the email was sent unfinished, but to my surprise, a magazine reporter who received the email happened to be working on a story that day and needed a quote. She emailed me back right away, asked for an interview and voilà! If I hadn’t accidentally sent the email out early, I would have missed out on a very cool opportunity!

2) Mistakes can provide us with valuable life lessons.
For me, many times when I make careless errors, it’s a sign that I need to slow down and clear some things from my plate. When I start to notice things like typos, forgetting my cell phone, or missing appointments, I resist the temptation to beat myself up over them. Instead, I choose to view them as reminders that it’s time to take a break and recharge my spirit. They can be like little warning signs, telling you to be more present, take better care of yourself, and slow down before you hit the wall!

3) Mistakes can open the doors to discovering better ways to do things.

Whether it’s making better dating choices or streamlining systems at your office, each mistake we make can offer lessons on what to avoid next time, how to simplify, and even how to be more true to yourself (mistakes and poor choices often happen when we’re out of step with who we truly are).

When it comes to handling things after a mistake is made, take responsibility, apologize if it’s called for, look for a possible solution, and then be open to the messages and lessons you may receive as a result. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move forward… stronger, wiser, and more experienced. One of the biggest screw-ups of all is being afraid to screw up. So step up, step out and live like you mean it—exciting discoveries are out there waiting for you!

-Kristi Blicharski from creatingyourbliss.com

Kristi Blicharski is a happiness and success catalyst working to help others create joy and realize a dream life. She’s a speaker, writer, and empowerment coach offering online courses, live workshops, and more. You can download her free eBook, Empower Your Day, learn more about her work, and check out her blog at: creatingyourbliss.com.

Girl Talk Time: What do you think about these tips? Have you ever made a mistake that surprisingly turned into something great?