Why Be Afraid of Making Mistakes When They’re the Gateway to Success?

“There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes.”

R. Buckminster Fuller

I’d much rather make a mistake than not make any at all.

Here’s why:

Before being arrested by the FBI and going to federal prison, I was already in prison.

I was imprisoned by the illusion of perfection and the fear of making a mistake.

“If I make everything perfect, no one can ever judge me.”

What happens when you’re afraid to make a mistake?

Anything new becomes an opportunity to make a mistake. The unknown is a mistake in the making.

You don’t try anything new; you don’t speak honestly; you tighten the constraints on your self-imposed prison cell.

I closed myself off to new opportunities and possibilities; when I shut these down, I reduced the number of available choices. When I reduce the number of choices I have — I rob myself of freedom.

The more choices I have, the more freedom I have.