Have you ever hesitated to take a leap of faith, fearing the possibility of failure? I certainly have. It's common to worry about making mistakes, even in small situations. But why do we fear making the wrong move so much? Is it because of our family, society, or even ourselves teaching us that we must be perfect? The truth is, mistakes are an essential part of life and personal growth.

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Indeed, our failures are rarely as catastrophic as we imagine, and our mistakes won’t cause our world to crumble. Yet, we place immense pressure on ourselves to avoid errors, striving only for victories and overlooking the value of failures.

Failures are just as valuable as successes. While success is undoubtedly more enjoyable, both victories and failures contribute to our growth and learning. They shape us, providing new perspectives. Our unique experiences, whether beautiful or ugly, form us into the individuals we are today, offering us a distinctive understanding of the world.

Mistakes can guide you in developing new strategies and thinking innovatively. In a previous discussion on grit and resilience, I quoted Thomas Edison, who said about inventing the lightbulb, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Edison used his failures to learn about electricity, ultimately leading to his “aha” moment after many trials.

Anyone can have an “aha” moment, including you. These moments aren't reserved for a select few; they come from intentionally using your experiences to develop solutions and persisting until you find the answer.

In my nearly thirty years in the educational field, I witnessed educators in the Physician Assistant field struggling to enhance their teaching skills. Through years of trial and error, I discovered effective strategies to help my PA students learn and succeed. I also encountered many methods that didn't work. My experience led me to develop a coaching model for PA educators, which has helped numerous professors across the nation improve their teaching skills and achieve higher student success rates.

Remember, your “aha” moment doesn't have to strike like lightning. My insights came from years of methodical processes. Expecting instant ideas might hinder you from dedicating the time and concentration needed to truly overcome challenges. Time and focus are essential, so be prepared to ponder ideas for a while. When an “aha” moment does strike, seize it!

Stop fearing mistakes. Stop dreading failure. Start experimenting with new ideas. Errors are part of life and can be beneficial if you learn from them. Even one mistake might provide the unique perspective needed for a breakthrough.