Our Western culture often teaches that there is a “wrong” associated with making a mistake. The result of this has been that some people are so fearful of making a mistake that they hesitate to even attempt new projects or learn a new skill. It is a little strange that anyone would come to this attitude when everyone knows that a child does not learn to walk or talk without many trials to reach success. We enjoy and encourage these skills. To some degree most of us accept the necessity to keep trying when we learn a new sport or skill. Somehow our view changes when it comes to learning at school and even in relating to each other. Without a willingness and an acceptance of the necessity for numerous trials, it is too easy to give up and in giving up to label ourselves as failures.
It was with great relief to me, when my Elder, Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha, introduced me to the concept of “retake”. Thomas Edison tried numerous ways to invent the light bulb before he found success. Abraham Lincoln lost eight elections before winning the presidential election. Why is it that we find this so impressive? Is there not even a small light bulb go on in our minds that this is the only attitude that makes sense if you truly believe in what you are going for? Thus in the idea of “retake” is the necessity to try something, evaluate its success level and if it does not meet the mark, then do a “retake” which means doing it a different way. A mistake in the negative connotation might only deserve that assessment if one continually and repeatedly makes the same mistake.
The concept of failing forward that John Maxwell authored a book is a similar idea. When some action “fails” and you persistently try again with a new approach, the motion is a forward one because you gradually eliminate all ways that do not meet the needs of the goal.
Some brief statements to ponder:
Take responsibility for actions that fail without personalizing.
Failure is not an end (unless you allow it to be).
A failure in one thing does not mean “you” are a failure.
Failing at one thing is not failing at all things.
Failure is a necessary part of growth.
Life is filled with trial and error.
The following example is used by John Maxwell: “A successful baseball player doesn’t look at an out that he makes and think of failure. He sees it within the context of the bigger picture. His perspective leads to perseverance. His perseverance brings longevity. And his longevity gives him opportunities for success.”
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