“Mistakes are excellent sources of information.” – Peter E. Schumacher
Mistakes are valuable learning opportunities that help us grow. When my children receive a test back and the grade is lower than expected, they often feel upset and disappointed. This reaction is completely normal and part of the process. We all do our best and try to meet the expectations of others. We seek recognition for our achievements to validate ourselves. However, the greatest lessons often come from our mistakes.
I tell my children that it’s understandable to feel frustrated, especially after putting in the effort to study. Ultimately, they now know exactly what they need to practice and where they can improve. This reflects the value of constructive feedback, which should be more about „feedforward.“ Feedforward focuses on what changes should be made to achieve a goal rather than dwelling on the past. Instead of asking „Why did this happen?“ we should ask, „What can I do to ensure this mistake doesn’t happen again?“
It’s important to recognize that there is no „correct“ behavior. What is considered faulty or correct is highly context-dependent. We always act to the best of our knowledge and conscience, based on what we have learned. In the context of our past, our behavior was successful. However, in the present or future, that same behavior might be classified as a „mistake.“
Therefore, we should learn from our mistakes to understand how the new context evaluates certain behaviors. This way, we can learn the norms and values of our new environment if given the opportunity.
Mistakes are not the end; they mark the beginning of a new learning process.
