Let's all make mistakes

Reframing what we often think as failure.

"We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents." - Bob Ross

What am I talking about? Accidents or mistakes?

A couple of months ago I began writing about mistakes that happen during the creative process. I came to a split in the road, one path was labeled ‘accident’, and the other was labeled ‘mistake’. Things got really interesting as I started to try to define both and compare a mistake vs an accident. I ran into a lot of issues, from circumstance, to context, to intent, to perception of outcome, and ended up in the worldview/theology realm.

I don’t consider that journey a mistake. When reading some essays on mistakes, I found a lot of negative misguided/wrong thinking around them. I discovered that it’s a rich area, especially around the creative process. I feel like a lot of people see time spent, versions, etc as making mistakes and it’s just embedded in ‘the process’. I would even dare to say the more mistakes you make, the richer the soil for interesting outcomes. Sometimes there is no avoiding ‘mistakes’ but there are definitely ways of working smarter, reframing questions, how you see the situation, adjusting expectations, and avoiding pitfalls. All that comes with experience and an open mind. (I’m always trying to game the process)

The Sight Below. A process that came from accidentally getting emulsion wet

My goal is to experience situations and see the educational aspects, which is hard for a pessimist. Mistakes can be constructive, an opportunity, part of discovery, an educational lesson, and finding a way around or through the event (there are many). Mistakes are just a byproduct of moving forward, a harbinger, imparting wisdom.

Everything is in perception.

Possible part 2 “Failure: A perceived outcome. A Tech-bro fan favorite”

PS: If you have read anything great about mistakes let me know. I am thinking about torturing myself by writing more about it.

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Links: Cina Associates, Cina Process, Cina Art, Public Type