I got these questions from Danielle’s blog Underland to Wonderland, where I came across a post in which she talked about the website Thought Questions and their 365 thought-provoking questions to ask yourself. My friends Katrin, Celeste and Jasmine have also been answering these questions, so be sure to go check out their blogs too!
Day 51: If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? I think part of it is the human resistance to looking weak. Making a mistake implies that you’ve somehow screwed up and are therefore weak or less able. However, this resistance intensifies due to social pressure to be a winner–look at how we hand out trophies at children’s sports games so all of the kids will be “winners” and no one will have to “lose” the game. It’s ridiculous! We’ve created a human culture in which errors or “second-best” are seen not as chances to improve but a lingering mark of failure.
This mindset seems to be a fairly new phenomenon and I’m curious/concerned to see how this impacts the next generations as they grow up and go into the world. Will they be afraid to take risks because they were taught that they need always to have a blue ribbon pinned to their jacket, and real life just offers too many chances to fail?
6 Comments
Katrin
I agree. There is always the risk to fail but if you don’t take any risks, then there can be no progress.
Martha Woods
So true! And sometimes things that seem like failures at the time turn out to be blessings in disguise.
Natasha Bhatt
Most of us want to achieve success and perfection in everything we do that is probably the reason why.. have a great day xo
http://natashabhatt.blogspot.in/
Martha Woods
Very true.
Pang Ly
can’t really say that I’m afraid of making mistakes cause I’ve done plenty and I’ve always taken my chances. I’ve grown wiser so I make less mistakes now.
Martha Woods
I guess that’s one of the nice things about getting older–you’re less paralyzed by the thought of making a mistake. (Or at least, I know I am.)