Overcoming Mistakes

There are times I wish I could take back a thing I did or said. Wish I could have that one moment in time to redo and correct. I replay the situation again and again to pinpoint the exact moment things went south. Maybe if I was more focused, less distracted, less defensive I would have handled it better, spoken softer, loved harder, decided differently. How many moments make up a memory? How many moments stand between each phrase? How many heartbeats comprise the time it takes to choose yes or no? Is it enough time to make the right choice? Can we stretch the moments between decisions?

In a nation where fast and clear speech is heralded there is often an unrelenting pressure to say what you need to say and say it quickly. New York, in particular is always on a hustle. From one thing to the next, and depending on how fast you barrel through the obstacles determines the extent of your praise. This kind of pace makes it easy to make mistakes. Easier to make the wrong turn because driving too slow will yield a frustrated honk from the car behind you. Makes it easier to offend your spouse with spiteful words because of the need to defend against a perceived wrong. Makes it easier to ignore a co-worker because they don’t fit in with the movers and shakers at the office. The pace of life creates a cadence where we are constantly walking forward without enough time spent thinking where we should go.

So we wind up making mistakes. Kicking ourselves because we should have been smarter, more thoughtful, a bit more prudent. Not only does the mistake take a toll on our esteem, the self-condemnation does a fine job to. Digging ourselves out of mistakes that may have cost us money, time or relationships is a difficult thing to do. Then I realized, the only way to counter mistakes is to GET WISER. Learn from everything you did and step-up your game. The only way to succeed is to continue.

I am a deconstructor by nature. My mind unravels a thing in order to learn its structure, essence and purpose. Systematic investigation is my default process. It is a gift God has given me to be able to decode, construct and initiate. I am disappointed whenever I believe I have failed in these processes. I continually remind myself to learn from my mistakes. But not in the euphemistic sense but in the concrete implementation. I must GET WISER. I must allow wisdom to work its perfect work in me. Allow recognition to soften my heart to the hurting. Allow love to curb my tongue. Allow compassion to cultivate a constantly forgiving heart. Allow hope to see the best in all people.

Wisdom is the principle thing. The more I integrate knowledge and understanding into my life, it is my hope, the less mistakes I will make. Mistakes will happen but I refuse to let my mistakes weigh me down. I refuse to let inconsistency eliminate my chance for success. Get over the past. Mistakes are a part of life. Living means you have another opportunity to make it right, to get better, to GET WISER. I’m learning every day and so should you.