The mistake - your friend and helper. Gather experience and learn from it

In school, mistakes have the unpleasant property of being painted red and thus being clearly visible. Plates or cups are not much different when they pass through quality control in the factory: Small scratches or glaze defects are mercilessly marked, the parts are graded as faulty goods and sorted out. If something goes wrong with the computer, "error" flashes up mercilessly. If the computer is to work again, the causes of the error message must be found, eliminated and avoided in the future.

ERROR = HELPER

Mistakes are omnipresent. We have to live with them. In order for them to fulfill their purpose and not gain the upper hand, the consequence is to learn from them. According to the cause-effect principle, every mistake also has an effect. The consequence is to try to do better by using mistakes as helpers. Visually, this is quite simple. If, as in the Scrabble game, the six letters E E F H L R are joined to form words, both ERROR and HELPER can result, an anagram. A small letter mistake turns the supposed evil into something good. The mistake becomes a helper.

"The biggest mistake you can make in life is to always be afraid of making a mistake." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Making mistakes means gaining experience

You don't necessarily have to make every mistake yourself; you can also learn from other people's mistakes by working out what is right from what is wrong. Stored negative knowledge, i.e. how something is not, does not work, which strategy does not lead to a solution, which concept is unsuitable because it brings the wrong results, acts like a kind of immune system. If we get into a similar situation, we can use this background information to control our actions so that we do not repeat the same mistake. The memory triggers a kind of alarm system and at the same time calls a norm into consciousness, which can cause critical questioning on the one hand, but also norm transparency on the other. This becomes clear whenever someone makes a mistake without realizing that it is a mistake. Even when we do something wrong in a foreign country, we often don't realize until later why people have reacted so strangely.

"Everywhere, early foreboding precedes late knowledge..." (Alexander von Humboldt)

Admitting mistakes

No one is infallible and to err is human. Once a mistake has been made and recognized as such, the temptation is great to blame someone else or the unfavorable circumstances, i.e. to reject the blame. Who doesn't know the situation from childhood when a window was broken while playing ball? No one wants to have done it, even though the broken window speaks volumes as clear evidence. The reaction is to run away quickly so that no one can be held responsible. Or, if caught, blame the others. No wonder, because for a long time it was customary to punish mistakes. And even in the modern office (non)hierarchy, people are only too happy to try to cover themselves as comprehensively as possible in case a mistake might occur. It certainly takes courage to admit a mistake to oneself and to others. On the other hand, admitting it is usually rewarded with respect.

"Every error has three stages: At the first, it is brought into being; at the second, one does not want to admit it; at the third, nothing undoes it." (Franz Grillparzer)

 Turning negatives into positives

Mistakes rarely happen out of calculation. Hardly anyone knowingly does something to harm others. Behind every behavior there is first of all a positive intention (e.g. to shoot the ball even further), even if this is not always apparent at first glance. When dealing with mistakes, it helps to always assume a positive intention. With the recognition of what went wrong, the transformation from the negative to the positive already begins. Because one now knows what was wrong, this aspect, this conclusion, this step can be avoided in the future, or it can be done differently. If the trigger is no longer an unknown, it loses its power. Its residual energy can be (re)directed. Because it would lead in the wrong direction, one can confidently assign it the place on the siding. The potential lies in the fear-free further development. With creativity and courage new power is released to go a new way, to find a new solution.

"To cover a mistake with a lie is to replace a stain with a hole." (Aristotle)

Allow feelings

Everything will be better next time. A good resolution, but one that quickly falls behind again if it only serves as a distraction or excuse. For things to really go better next time, behavior must also change. If the willingness to do so is present, this is already the first step. It is not for nothing that what we do is very closely linked to our own perception. Who can claim to be the best version of themselves? There is always room for improvement. Even when dealing with mistakes made, we are faced with the choice of how to react to the information we receive. Annoyed, doubtful, or curious?

"You have to turn the faults you can't get rid of into virtues."  (Cesare Pavese)

Looking ahead

To correctly classify an error and its effects is always possible only by looking back. The error is already in the past. But the rest of life happens in the present and the future. Despite the bad experiences made, the view must go forward. Only in this way can failures be transformed. Only those who continue to develop keep their finger on the pulse of time, remain competitive and successful - in all areas of life.

To the author:

As a success trainer and expert in sales psychology, Marc M. Galal is convinced that "The great secret of success or failure lies in personal attitude!" Building on extensive training, he has developed the nls® strategy. A total of 1.6 million people have read, heard and experienced Marc M. Galal live. Numerous companies such as Toyota, Bang & Olufsen and Renault have been relying on nls® for years. In his seminars, Marc M. Galal releases inhibiting beliefs and enables participants to reboot into the life of their dreams. More information at www.marcgalal.com/nolimits.