Present Me: I hate making mistakes. Every time I mess up, I feel like I’m failing. How do you deal with mistakes now?

Future Me: Oh, I used to feel the same way! But over time, I learned that mistakes aren’t failures. They’re signs of effort. They’re proof that I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something new. Without mistakes, there’s no growth.

Present Me: That sounds great in theory, but it’s hard to accept mistakes in the moment. I feel embarrassed, frustrated, and sometimes even discouraged.

Future Me: I get it. No one enjoys making mistakes. But here’s what changed my perspective—mistakes are data, not disasters. They show you what works and what doesn’t. Think of them as stepping stones instead of setbacks.

Present Me: That’s easier said than done. Sometimes, my mistakes make me feel like I’m not good enough.

Future Me: I used to think that too. But the truth is, mistakes don’t define you—how you respond to them does. When you see mistakes as learning opportunities instead of judgments on your worth, they lose their power to make you feel small.

Present Me: So, how do I change my mindset? How do I start seeing mistakes as lessons instead of failures?

Future Me: Start by reframing them. Instead of saying, “I failed,” say, “I learned.” Instead of thinking, “I’m not good enough,” think, “I’m improving.” This small shift makes a big difference.

Present Me: But what if I keep making the same mistakes over and over?

Future Me: Then it means there’s something important to learn. Mistakes will repeat themselves until you take the lesson seriously. But that’s okay—it’s all part of the process. Progress isn’t about never making mistakes; it’s about making new ones and growing from them.

Present Me: I guess I never thought of it that way. What’s one mistake you made that taught you a valuable lesson?

Future Me: Oh, there are so many! But one that stands out is when I hesitated too much. I was so afraid of making a mistake that I ended up doing nothing—and that was the biggest mistake of all. I learned that inaction is far worse than getting something wrong because at least mistakes move you forward.

Present Me: That’s a good point. So, how do I start embracing mistakes instead of avoiding them?

Future Me: First, stop aiming for perfection. Instead, aim for progress. Every mistake you make is proof that you’re in motion, that you’re stretching yourself beyond what’s comfortable. The more you try, the more you’ll grow.

Second, develop resilience. When you make a mistake, take a deep breath, reflect on what happened, and adjust your approach. Don’t dwell on what went wrong—focus on what comes next.

And finally, be kind to yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. The people you admire? They’ve made plenty. The difference is that they kept going despite them.

Present Me: That’s reassuring. But what about the fear of people judging me when I make mistakes?

Future Me: People will always have opinions, but their judgments don’t define you. Most of the time, they’re too focused on their own struggles to be thinking about yours. And even if they are? So what? You’re not living for their approval. You’re living for your own growth.

Present Me: You make it sound so simple.

Future Me: It’s not simple, but it is worth it. The sooner you accept mistakes as part of the journey, the faster you’ll move forward. Every mistake is a lesson, every lesson is a step, and every step brings you closer to who you’re meant to be.

Present Me: So, what’s your final advice?

Future Me: Keep trying. Keep making mistakes. Keep learning. The only real failure is giving up. Mistakes are not the end of the road; they’re just detours guiding you to a better path. Keep going—you’re doing better than you think.

Present Me: Thank you. I think I needed to hear that.

Future Me: Anytime. Now go out there and make some mistakes—it means you’re on your way to something great.

to Learn more……read this Believe, Play , Plan, Execute: A Conversation with My Future Self