I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something (Neil Gaiman).
What a refreshing perspective! When the world is telling you to “do this to be thinner” or “do that to be fitter” or “try these 5 steps to be successful,” I find it quite refreshing to have permission to make mistakes.
And make mistakes I will! Considering I already do, this part shouldn’t be very hard. But how I look at my mistakes this year will be very different.
Rather than getting discouraged about making a mistake, I can rejoice in the fact that I was courageous and tried something new. I believe as long as I can learn something from it, it is not a waste of my time.
Are you looking for a change this year? Searching for your answer? Waiting for a breakthrough perhaps? Try these tips for a great year as you reach for the stars–you may be surprised at where you end up!
1. Think outside the box. You know what the definition of insanity is, right? So, if you want a different result, you need to try a different plan. Go for it! Try something you’ve never tried before. You may just like the results.
2. Don’t worry about falling. Heck, we all fall down at one time or another. I don’t know any toddlers who became perfect walkers on the first try. The important thing is not how many times we fall, but how many times we get back up and try again. Pick yourself up and keep going!
3. Learn 1 new thing this year. What have you been wanting to learn to do but have kept putting it off because it hasn’t been the “right time?” Just what is the “right time” anyway? The “right time” is now. Go ahead, learn to play that piano, or read that novel, or visit the Grand Canyon, or spend time with your loved ones. Whatever it is, don’t delay any longer. This is a great time to do it!
4. Give yourself permission to fail. Really? Fail? Yes! As adults, we do not like to fail–at anything. And because we are afraid to fail, we are afraid to try new things. Even things we may enjoy are put aside because we’re afraid we won’t be good at it, or can’t master it, or whatever. This year, give yourself permission to do something just for the sake of enjoying it. Not to master it, or be successful or anything like that. Do it just for the fun of it.
5. Share your mistakes with a friend. I dare you. “Making mistakes is bad enough,” you say, “now you want me to make my mistakes public?” Absolutely!! By sharing your mistakes with a friend, spouse or child, you learn to laugh at yourself. And learning to laugh at oneself is a good thing. I remember the time I mailed 36 envelopes to ministry colleagues–with nothing in them! Not only did I share it with my family and friends, I wrote a blog post about it and let the whole world know! I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who related to my story and shared one of their own.
However you choose to do this new year, remember that is is a gift from God to you. And I know our Heavenly Father is not surprised when we make mistakes and even expects us to! After all, He is the only perfect One.
So as you unwrap this new year day by day, be sure to live fully in each moment—by learning new things, trying out new perspectives, seeing things from new angles, making lots of new mistakes. And be sure to take what you can from each mistake as you continue to move forward in all that He has for you this year. Before you know it, you’ll have come so far!
Happy New Year to You!