“Think back to the last time your boss assigned you a new project or task at work, or the last time you tried to tackle something really difficult in your personal life. How did it feel? I’m guessing scary, right?
While some people seem eager to tackle new challenges, many of us are really just trying to survive without committing any major screw-ups. Taking on something totally new and unfamiliar is understandably frightening, since the odds of making a mistake are good when you are inexperienced. Small wonder that we greet new challenges with so little enthusiasm.
How can we learn to see things differently? How can we shift our thinking, and approach new responsibilities and challenges with more confidence and energy?
The answer is simple, though perhaps a little surprising: Give yourself permission to screw-up. Start any new project by saying “I’m not going to be good at this right away, I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s okay.”
So now you’re probably thinking, “If I take your advice and actually let myself screw up, there will be consequences. I’m going to pay for it.” Fair enough. But you really needn’t worry about that, because studies show that when people are allowed to make mistakes, they are significantly less likely to actually make them! Let me explain.”
Read more at Psychology Today (Thanks Annette M)
Thanks for this, the article is a good wake-up call for those of us trying to be perfectionists and constantly sabotaging our efforts with the need to appear good at everything and never make mistakes. As someone who is currently trying to learn another (rather tricky) language, I really will try to bear this in mind and allow myself to screw-up and not be so uptight about it.
Jason
I had never used Photoshop in my life before and I had two weeks to produce a print advertisment to go in several glossy UK mags. I sweated a little at the task, (not attractive for a lady) messed up a couple of times but I hit the deadline and the advert looked good!
I now use it everyday and I’m not a designer.
I quite like new challenges now and I’d rather try and fail then not attempt in the first place.
That saying. “I’m not going to be good at this right away, I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s okay.” Doesnt fit with bungee jumping or skydiving….or possibly surgery. Although that may be the mantra Micheal Jackson’s plastic surgeon had. He never learnt a thing did he.
It’s a sound enough philosophy unless you’re in charge of big red nuclear buttons
“Start any new project by saying ‘I’m not going to be good at this right away. . . .’.”
So that’s not how everyone does it ?
The first question I always ask is ‘How can I break this, mess it up, or make it go horribly wrong ?’
No wonder I’m a quick learner.
learning from your mistakes is as old as the hills, hardly cutting edge psychology.