Make Mistakes Safe and Good — D&C 58-59 — Life Experienced with Terri Anne Flint

Mistakes have a bad rap. Rather than seeing them as the essential means of learning what not to do, we view them as shameful, something to deflect with blame and shame. Seldom, if ever, do we hear influencers or leaders admit, “I made a mistake.” Consequently, bad decisions are hidden or continue to grow into bigger problems. Worst yet, a simple mistake may divert us from pursuing a skill that can only be mastered by making mistakes, making corrections, and moving forward with new knowledge.

Mistakes are a fact of life. They are part of the change process. If we accept this truth, acknowledging and taking responsibility for our mistakes becomes easier (See D&C 58:42-43). We don’t have to make up stories to defend or offend. It becomes as simple as “I made a mistake, and this is what I’m going to do about it.”

If we want our children to accept and own their mistakes, we must create an environment where it is safe to make mistakes–falling isn’t about failing, but learning. A good question around the dinner table could be this, “What mistake did you make today and how did you respond?”

“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

“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 yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.” –Neil Gaiman

Make Mistakes Safe and Good — D&C 58-59