While I couldn’t confirm that October is still when National Quality is celebrated as a USA event, I was reminded of the event because a training client is in the midst of ISO 9001 standard certification, normally associated with Quality Management where mistakes and failures bring some of the quality assurance biggest lessons.
If there is anything that isn’t part of quality it’s – daily life mistakes and even unexpected mishaps. This past month was dotted with mistakes for me.
First, I embarrassingly was late for two appointments in one day, a first for me. Also, I almost paid $300 for car service I already paid the car dealer for, in an annual contract. And my husband an I arrived at a friends house for hors d’oeuvres – a day late.
As if these human nature things weren’t enough, then, inadvertently I signed up for a joint venture that I couldn’t readily contribute to. What to do isn’t as much the question as mistakes, failures and lessons.
Even though I’m an introvert, you’d be incorrect to think of me as slow to action. The introvert in me is simply where I direct my energy, and that is inward. How I take action relates more to my judging processes. I prefer not to have total recall of my past mistakes but instead, take them as lessons to help get me into action where I otherwise might be slack.
Acknowledge your mistakes.
Your calendar is a schedule not just a plan. This may seem like common sense to you, but when life gets cranking along at the fastest pace I’ve ever known, some things get taken for granted. On the particular day that I was either no-show or late for an appointment, my calendar opened up automatically with a reminder but I just – was over conditioned to those pop-ups. It’s about paying attention. It’s healthy for your self esteem to turn that mistake into a lesson. Some of the biggest lessons come from just the acknowledgement.
Mistakes are not irreversible.
Sometimes I over commit, can you relate? Sometimes I have to stop and ask myself, what am I doing online? As focused as I am with why I do what I do, there are times I forget my intentions or goals. I usually don’t get into trouble with committing to something that seems to be a fit to my business focus or niche. It’s also smart to be receptive to a new opportunity. But in my recent faux pas of committing to a JV when I wasn’t ready with a gift, I had to rechannel my enthusiasm knowing, this mistake may lead to some meaning. I’m letting my enthusiasm serve.
“There are no mistakes or failures, only lessons,” said Denis Waitley.
My guess is even for a company going for as important a designation as ISO 9000, a mistake can be a lesson for the next time around. Heck I think even Arnold Schwarzenegger, having several marital affairs while married to Maria Shriver, would agree, his mistakes are giving him some lifelong lessons, albeit more costly than most. As I look at missed appointments, or when I consider my over committing, it helps to me to take better control of my everyday actions that I often take for granted. It’s time to look for ways to improve. Facing the mistakes stop me from being on autopilot with a daily ritual, a common disease of this decade.
“We know that all things work together for good,”
…is a part of a Bible verse that comes to mind when considering the results of my recent mistakes. It’s Romans 8:38 if you want the full verse and context that this is for those who love God. I know that for me, mistakes of any kind are some kind of a sign or message to take a look at the bigger picture. That in taking some time to examine the mistake, without getting caught up in over analyzing, gives me a chance to both own up with responsibility and make things better going forward.
If we are living life we will make mistakes, some of them stupid mistakes. But rather than seeing or feeling them as the end, take them head on: make something meaningful come of them.
How do you turn mistakes into meaning? Do you have any powerful lessons you can tell us here?
You are preaching to the choir…. LOL. I felt very much kindred to you while reading what you had to say. I have had a similar few weeks, heck it seems like the whole year has been that way. Each mistake or misstep has proven to be an opportunity dressed in very different clothing. 🙂
I can SO relate to this post. As I read the things you experienced I cringed for you. But taking the bright side and learning from those things means none of them is a wasted event. Great post! 🙂
Some great observations here Pat – I inwardly groaned for you, knowing how awful those things make you feel. Why is it that the old saw of learning by our mistakes is so crucial , yet so hard to do? I guess we just have to keep on trying to let it sink in. Thanks for the post.
Your post made me smile because, like the other commenters, I could so deeply relate! When I was in coaching school, I remember being taught that there was no such thing as mistakes. We all make the best decisions we can in any given moment. Perhaps if we all focused more it would help us to err less frequently. Being conditioned to pop ups like you mention (and I am) means we’re not 100% present. I worry about this for society as a whole. We have all become such avid multitaskers that we are doing ourselves an injustice. I for one am trying to slow down, be more present, and remember to breathe… so I can simply “remember”!
I had to smile… I’ve had weeks like that! Loved this post – thank you!
Susan, it’s good to hear that there are even more things we have in common!
A.K.Andrew, I think you are right. In part it’s what’s meant by it’s all part of the journey.
Geek Girl, you are always appreciated as you are always seeing the upside! Thanks.
Just an update Keyuri:
When I took my dog out for her morning business, I just stopped for about 1 minute, looked up at the glorious sky, breathed life in. Purposefully being present!
As long as the weeks don’t turn into months I think we are OK! Thanks Renee.
Pat — we all make mistakes. And I think most of us berate ourselves unnecessarily. A friend once said, “Learn to forgive yourself.” That is so true. Making a mistake is not the same as being unkind to someone, or not living up to your principles. So I say, “get over it!”
Wow Pat, What a great post! Its so much inspiring to read it and I could not stop smiling throughout the post. What you said is absolutely true that its okay to commit mistakes and admit it. If we don’t , make our own mistakes then how are we ever going to learn anything in life!