“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” ~Richard Branson
As a perfectionist by nature, I tend to think that I can’t do new things perfectly from the start, I shouldn’t do them at all. So I often try to master all of the rules before I’ll even give it that first try.
As you can imagine, I’ve missed out on any number of opportunities through the years with this way of doing things.
But this way of approaching new things is a choice I’ve made along the way (albeit an unconscious one). I wasn’t born this way. Once upon a time, I learned to walk by trying and falling over just like everyone else, so I know it’s possible even for me to do things differently.
As I’ve focused on re-learning how to live life experimentally—trying something new, falling, learning from the fall, getting up, trying it again a little better—life has expanded in so many ways as I learn to do all kinds of new things.
I’m learning to treat those falling-over moments as opportunities to learn and improve my approach for the next experimental attempt toward whatever new skill I’m practicing.
I have to say that this approach sure does make life a whole lot more fun!
What are you working on learning right now? Are you willing to get out there and do it, even if you fall over a time or two in the process?
Posts from other divisions of Chrysalis Wellness for this week
