Let's face it, we all make mistakes. Some mistakes are more harmful and hurtful than others. Yet, no matter the gravity of the error, we learn from our mistakes. Mistakes are the stepping stones to betterment.
I'm thinking of errors I've made and repeated over time, mistakes I want to learn more from so that I don't repeat them again and again.
Exhaustion
Becoming exhausted is an error I can avoid. When I'm exhausted, I'm never satisfied with what I do. Ways to avoid exhaustion include lessening your expectations (no one is superhuman), employing a healthy routine, and getting the sleep you need. Looking back at some of the busier chapters of my life when exhaustion occurred too often, I could have reached out for a little extra help in order to get the rest I needed.
Expectations
When we rush life without taking the time to listen carefully, observe, and ask good questions, we may have erroneous expectations for ourselves and others. Slowing life down helps us to know exactly where people are, what they want, and what they can do in realistic ways. I remember when my life was extraordinarily busy and rather than slowing down to truly understand where friends were coming from, I simply moved on and through their needs, actions, and words. I would have been much better off if I slowed down, listened carefully, and questioned accordingly to understand what was going on. When we meet life with too much speed, we often meet life without enough empathetic, kind, and caring responses.
So as I think about past errors, I am reminded that a good life is a life that you meet with best possible caring, empathetic, honest, and kind energy, health, listening, observation, and questioning. If we move gently, we will better serve ourselves and others, and we'll likely make fewer errors too. Onward.