And while these blunders may challenge and vex us, let's face it: most of the time mistakes are anything but fatal. In fact, chances are they'll bring something even better into our lives.
*Career mess-ups could be viewed as valuable career experiences.
*Receiving criticism could help us figure out how to put our strengths to better use.
*Misjudging the competition might guide us to a more lucrative playing field.
*Dreams we can't seem to fulfill could make way for even bigger, better ones.
It's our choice: we can constantly regret missteps and see them as failures, or we can accept- maybe even embrace- the crazy turns and decisions we've made in the past and treat them as navigational devices for the future. In this new light, the pain and scars acquired along the journey transform into badges of honor, rather than embarrassments to hide out of shame.
We are not perfect, so how can we expect each choice we make to be perfect?
There is a centuries-old Japanese art form, Kintsugi, that celebrates mistakes and imperfections- particularly in the form of cracks and fissures- and sees them as things of beauty and meaning. I find the art form, which is distinctly aligned with Zen philosophy, to be a fantastic metaphor for creating your own unique path.
This fun video illustrates the history and process of Kintsugi, as well as it's celebration of the imperfect. Check it out here.
Enjoy!
-Katie
