Everything is a Learning Experience
As I have just finished the first month of college, I have had to accept that everything is a learning experience. Everything happens for a reason, and everything is put in our path to teach us something.
Instead of focusing on perfection, let’s collectively focus on growing through our mistakes and failures. Failures are not final. Failures are a way to understand what we don’t know and what we still need to learn.
No regret. No guilt. Just learning. Use each mess up or sense of regret as a time to reflect. No negativity, just think about what you might do differently next time.
You are enough regardless of any mistakes you think you have made. Life isn’t as deep as we think it is. We are all struggling. We are all just trying to get through the days to the best of our ability, and we are all doing amazing.
Stop expecting perfection because that doesn’t exist. Why would we strive for perfection? Perfection means there is nothing left to learn. If there is nothing to learn then we have no purpose. Stay curious and get excited about your curiosity. What did you mistake allow you to learn? How are you better off because of it? Think of the positives of your mistakes.
One moment in time does not define you. This is your life, you chose what defines you and what doesn’t. A bad grade, a junk food-filled night, a questionable decision, none of that defines you. Take it with grace, reflect on your goals, and move on.
It is more about what you do with the information than the information itself. Resilience is key. Take in the information, allow it to ruminate, maybe cry, maybe scream. Your feelings are valid, but at some point it will be time to move on and use the information to your benefit.
What do you want with your life? How can this mistake help you get there. What people can you surround yourself with to aid in your growth? What experiences can you take part in?
Instead of feeling sad or depressed about your “mess-up,” get excited. This is an opportunity to learn what you don’t want with your life and what you don’t want to happen. Use that to fuel your fire. Let this give you motivation. Did you get a bad grade? Ok, review it, study, put in the time and effort and come back so much stronger. It also isn’t always about the outcome. What is really important is the effort. Effort over outcome any day. If you did your best and poured your heart into something and it didn’t end the way you would have liked, you have to let it go. There is nothing more you could have done, and if there is something more you could have done, you know for next time.
Whenever anyone asks me what my biggest regrets are I say nothing. I don’t regret anything because everything has a reason behind it. Even if it doesn’t feel like there is a reason now, there was or will be a reason at some point.
If you start to feel bad about yourself, I want you to actively reflect. Don’t just pretend to think about it. Actually think about it. Write it down. Journal. Use all the questions I have mentioned above as guidance.