Why We Need To Make Certain Mistakes — Again and Again

We are all fixated on avoiding mistakes. But the truth is — not all mistakes should be avoided. Some mistakes have to be made. The lesson won't be learned otherwise.

The trick is to learn how to differentiate between the mistakes we should make and those we shouldn't make.

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I. The Mistakes We Must Avoid

Certain mistakes simply must be avoided. Don't try crack cocaine. Don't drive 150 mph on a busy highway. Don't jump from high buildings.

If the result is likely irreversible, you don't want to try it.

II. The Mistakes We Should Avoid

With these mistakes, there is no uncertainty in your mind — you know that they are clearly mistakes. You know if you will make them, they will cost you.

These mistakes should be avoided at all costs. However, it's not always easy to do so. You might understand that eating the whole cheesecake is a bad idea and will sabotage your diet goals. But you might do it anyway.

It is with this kind of mistake that you can save yourself a lot of heartache. By putting certain systems in place, e.g., not having junk food at home or attending accountability meetings, you can achieve your goals quicker.

III. The Mistakes We Must Make

This last category is the trickiest. It refers to actions that are clearly mistakes. However, you haven't fully realized that yet.

Note: Fully realized doesn't mean you are completely unaware of the problem. You might have had several moments in the past when you acknowledged your mistake. But then, as time went by, you preferred to indulge in your delusions again.

For example, you might realize that your regular, social drinking is not conducive to your uber-ambitious athletic goals — at times. But then at other times, you prefer to think that you can somehow have it all, the long nights at the bar and the Olympic gold medal.

Everybody has a few of those. For example, my preferred mistake is to take on too many projects at the same time. I have had more than one mental breakdown because of it in the past. Yet, I always come back to it.

With these types of mistakes, the ones we can't fully acknowledge yet, we must increase the frequency. We must make them again and again. We must break down numerous times until the message finally gets through — "This really is bad."

This doesn't happen on an intellectual level so much as on an emotional level. We need to make that emotional connection between action and pain. And for that, we need to supercharge the mistake, not domesticate it.

What are your category-3 mistakes? Shoot me a message!

Until next week,

Niels