You don't have to get it right the first time

I've been cleaning my desk today - something I could do more regularly judging from the accumulated assortment of bits and pieces that obliterate the wooden desktop. I came across an interesting quote jotted on a scrap of paper:

"The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon...."    by Robert Cormier

 I don't know who Cormier is or were I found this brilliant gem of insight but I like it. First of all, it helps me with my writing practice. Knowing that I can go back later to edit and polish relieves me of the burden of having to be perfect all the time. I can let myself write freely, musing on whatever thoughts are rummaging around in my head. But I think the quote has even deeper implications for living life.

Rarely do people consider that making mistakes is a natural part of experience. Too often we criticize ourselves for poor judgment and inexcusable errors. Certainly some mistakes can have dire results as in the case of the forementioned brain surgeon. For the most part, though, our errors are not life-threatening nor do they carry enormous planetary implication. When we choose to look at mistakes as learning, errors becoming opportunities. That's experience! We try something, if it works we do it again. If it doesn't, we change, adjust our process or do something else.

How restrictive to think everything must be done correctly the first time. This all or nothing approach would certainly stifle my creativity. I could imagine never wanting to try something new. Fear of failure is a massive obstacle to action. So I think I'll tack this little scrap of paper on the bulletin board above my desk to remind me that even in life, the beautiful part is that I don't have to get it right the first time.

Are you proud of something you have done in your life?  Write about the things you 'got right'.

What things have not worked in your life? Write about a time when something went wrong and how you fixed it or moved on. What was the learning for you?

Describe a time when you were afraid but went on anyway. How did it feel to begin? How did it feel during and after the task.

Write a character sketch of perfection or try a dialogue with Mistakes.

Comments

[Jason Howard]

Hi there Susan,

I'm the transcriptionist for Journaling for a Better Life. I really enjoyed your interview with Kay, and it's stuck in my memory. Life coaching has never been something I've resonated with... it's always seemed a kind of watered-down mentoring, I suppose... and I want to do something DEEP with people! I've thought about being a therapist but I want to focus a bit more on the positive. On visions. So the way you explained Life Coaching, it finally sounded like something I might enjoy doing! I'm glad to find your blog, and I hope you continue writing. It's easy in this world of blogging to feel you have no audience -- but it's there! and what you write means so much.

I can also relate to you, as I studied physics and philosophy, but nowadays I don't think people would ever guess that about me!

I'm excited to see you link to Christina Baldwin's website. Story! That's something so important to me. I'm still trying to figure it out. It should be a central theme in my life. I do know that with my transcription work I want to focus more on helping people tell their stories. People who might otherwise not -- people who are not writers but are excellent storytellers? That would be so fulfilling.

I've really been in a perfectionistic mode lately so thank you for this post! This is an attitude I need to take more often. I don't understand how some people can be so intolerant of certain mistakes of others, when we *all* do silly things sometimes -- just not necessarily the same things! Really this fear of mistakes can be so restricting.

[susan de wardt]

Jason - thank you for your supportive comments. I am happy to know that my writing encourages you. I'm write with you about story being important (pun intended) - which is why I spend much of my time helping people tell their own stories. You might find today's post interesting about the National Day of Listening. Go to www.storycorps.net to learn more about telling and listening to stories across the country.
Susan