You Cannot Make a Mistake
Image by Lorenzo Cafaro from Pixabay
What is a mistake? According to Dictionary.com, a mistake is “an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.”
How do you know you’ve made one? It is often after the fact that we state “That was a mistake!” – so that begs the question – what was happening prior to the even in question, while you were still determining whether to take that action or not? Could it be that you were considering your options and, in that moment, you went with the one that seemed to be the best?
This principle asks us to consider that we are all always doing the best that we can.
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
There is an element of intention that comes into play as well – the assumption that we are doing the best we can at any given moment and that we are operating under the idea of having the best intention. I think that if the act is done intentionally, knowing it will turn out badly, that maybe it is no longer a “mistake”. This concept also allows us to have a bit of compassion and grace for ourselves and others as we walk through this world.
How would your world be different if we assumed that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have (including their state of mind) at any given moment?
I’d love to hear what you think about this principle? Do you agree? Or not? If not, why not?
Let’s stay in touch - sign up for my newsletter here.