Making a mistake – we have given this word so much condemnation power. I hear myself and many other people say such horrid things to themselves – like “Dummy, how could you be so stupid?” Even if we are just saying these words to ourselves, when no one else hears them, we hear them. These words send our energy spiraling downward and shut down our progress.
We can start to get some relief if we take a different view and break down this word to “mis-takes.” A mis-take is just one “take” in this incredible play that is our life. And the Director is always lovingly whispering for us to reset and do it again. Just as in any great movie, it may require many “takes,” to get things the way we want. We don’t know something until we understand it. Mastery comes with take after take, until it becomes part of our body of knowledge – part of the muscle memory in our body or brain. Then something we have been struggling with, all of a sudden, we just know. Mis-takes can be blessings and the greatest teachers of our life lessons. What if every time we had a mis-take, we said “In circumspect – taking a bird’s eye view and seeing all sides with Compassion – this is what I learned”? Well, at least that is a wonderful goal to reach for!
At home, by yourself, you can pretty much stay safe-less chances of making mis-takes. We criticize ourselves only a bit for mis-takes we experience in private. However, when we are out there Embracing and Participating in Life, there are many more chances to make mis-takes where others can see. We tend to more harshly torture ourselves for mis-takes seen by others. And, we especially want to punish ourselves when we have the mis-take of allowing others to take advantage of us. But taking chances, and keeping taking chances, is what really Being Alive is all about. It might mean learning something new or having the intent of conquering something old. This could be something that is currently challenging you, or just to have more meaningful relationships. When we take on something new, we do open ourselves up to mis-takes – but also to incredible growth.
Centered Action:
Listen to the Divine Loving whisper encouraging you to reset and do it again – always better. Gratefully, we have been given a lifetime of do-overs.