Breaking the Trap of Negative Thinking

Recently I lovingly reminded my son, a “small mistake doesn’t change who he is. He is still thoughtful, smart, and kind.  Everyone makes mistakes.”  I firmly believe this truth.  And yet, when the situation is flipped, I struggle to talk to myself in a similar, gentle way.  Instead, I find myself ruminating on the could-haves and should-haves.  Life is irritating that way.

Mistakes are Expected

Guest Post: I love that one of the basic items included with a sewing machine is this seam ripper. It’s like the manufacturers know you’ll need it. It basically says, “Hey, you’re not perfect. You’ll need to redo this. Often. Often enough that this is a standard tool expected to accompany the machine. It’s included—no extra charge—because the work itself will be hard enough. Mistakes are expected.”