The Importance of Embracing our Mistakes

       Growing up, I gained a fear of being wrong. I grew up in an environment that stigmatized the idea of making mistakes. That if you asked questions, you were dumb and messing up meant not being as good as everyone else. If something didn't make sense to you then that's your fault and you're just not smart. If you make the smallest mistake, you'll be mocked and laughed at and it that effects us to where the idea of it happening terrifies us out of trying anything. This is the unfortunate reality of a lot of places and I know lots people likely go through this. When we're kids, we're unafraid of messing up and learning, but as adults we see messing up as a setback and that scares us.

But it really shouldn't be that way.

         This is something extremely important that I've actually learned from being in the cosplay community. Messing up, miscalculating, making mistakes...these help us learn. No one is born perfect. No one bursts from their mother's womb with all the answers to the universe. To get where we are, we have to learn. We need to mess up. We need to ask questions. We need to research and find things. Gaining skill takes time. We live in a society where there is so much demand for instant gratification that when we see others excel at what seems to be a fast pace with no mistakes, then we feel as though there's something wrong with us. And that makes us apprehensive to try new things because we think we'll never meet up to others' standards. However, everyone makes mistakes, even the people that we think never do. Making mistakes is an important part of the learning process. No person who tried anything got it right on the first try. No one is born with a natural ability to do anything perfectly.

         Sometimes it is hard to accept our mistakes for what they are. Especially when we live in an environment that stigmatizes them so harshly. But when we make mistakes we need to step back, look at them and let them know that we're not afraid. Fear is a part of human nature, but so are mistakes. When you look your fears in the eyes and embrace them instead of avoiding them, you grow and learn and move on. Embracing our mistakes is how we learn from them. Seeing how you did something wrong helps to you to figure out how to do it right in the future. And sharing your mistakes can help others to learn and grow with you. People are imperfect. If we all embrace our mistakes, maybe we can erase the widespread fear of fail and we can learn and grow together.

Go with love,

Koopa