The Immeasurable Value of Making Mistakes!

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career.  I’ve lost almost 300 games.  26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.  I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed.”                   -Michael Jordan

 

Allowing a loved one to make mistakes and experience failure is extremely difficult.  Out of love, our first instinct is to prevent that fall, correct the situation, and solve the unanswered questions.  However, growth, wisdom, and maturity spring from mistakes. Mistakes are human, humbling and essential.  The only way not to fail is to live so guardedly that you barely live at all.  That’s no fun!  Failure can be a type of freedom because the worst has already happened.  Now you can relax and rebuild you life.

 

Parents, avoid expecting perfection.  It often leads to increased anxieties, the inability to make choices, and moving forward in life.  Allow mistakes to happen and watch your child grow.  Do not take the responsibility off of the child and do expect them to own up to their mistakes.  Do not scold or jump in too fast.  Let them feel the natural consequesnces, then offer the positive challenge for them to think and creatively solve their mistakes.  Many of the greatest successes come from the failures.   Admit it, explore it, and improve it !!!