The importance of making mistakes

“We learn to see with the heart, which loves, rather than with the mind, which compares and defines.  This is a radical way of being that takes us beyond perfection.” - Jack Kornfield

I notice that I procrastinate before I write this.  I am not a natural writer and words are often hard to find but I enjoy sharing both my experience of mindfulness practice and the experiences in my own life journey and the knowledge that I have accumulated from my years of work with the body, mind and spirit. 

I was caught in a fear of making mistakes which trapped me in a place I didn’t want to be.  I have learnt that it is my fear of making mistakes and appearing imperfect that often holds me back and I now realise that to be with this fear and become curious about it and face it has been my awakening and road to freedom.

“I now realise that to be with this fear and become curious about it and face it has been my awakening and road to freedom.”

Rachel Podger

I notice that one of the many benefits of truly meeting and being with this aspect of myself is that of finding joy and feeling uplifted.  This morning my dog, Tiger, went for a swim in the river.  I call her my water diviner as she can smell water from a very long way off! She loves to lie down and immerse herself in it, followed by a brief swim around and returns to me for a shake, leaving me cooled off too, and then she loves to roll on the grass to dry herself off.  She reminds me of the simple and wonderful pleasures in life and the importance of taking time to pause and enjoy them.  I reflect back to when I bought her as a puppy and for a moment believed I had made a huge mistake.  How was I going to look after this being for the rest of her life?

Only the curious can make mistakes which shows the importance of making mistakes.  There is no way of changing my state of mind without being curious and even if I make a mistake, I am moving forward, and my soul feels replenished and joyful.  Thank you Tiger for showing me that when I listen to my heart, I can experience the joy of being in the moment and with all of her and my imperfections, if there are such things!