The Comeback

Mistakes. I'm not sure there's anyone who likes making them. Perhaps there are people who are complacent about them, but the general idea is that they could cost us a lot sometimes or maybe just embarrass us. Reality check! We'll always tend to make mistakes, but we can change how we respond to them rather than cringe, regret, or beat ourselves up over it.

The earliest embarrassment that shaped my mindset about mistakes happened when I was about seven years old. I was free-spirited, fun, and playful. Maybe I used to make jokes of other boys and girls with my gang, and so the universe thought to teach me a lesson I would never forget.

Every Sunday, the children's department held morning devotions before service. Kids were chosen randomly to hold the praise & worship session, and then every other child just flows. Unexpectedly, I was chosen this time, and I was more than unprepared.

When I got up to the stage, nothing happened. No song came to mind. Somehow, every song lyrics I had ever known in my life forsook me. I felt betrayed, but even worse, I froze. I just stood there looking at everyone as they stared, waiting that I do what was expected of me. Many seconds passed, and I was thankfully taken out of the misery, and someone else took my place to do the job.

The cloud of embarrassment that surrounded me had me wishing I just vanished for 100 years like Avatar Aang. The all-playful and talkative Jay became radio silent since that day, and humility made a new partnership.

I didn't like how I felt that day and how insecure I became afterwards. Realising how it unnecessarily it slowed me down, I made a strong resolution within myself to never brood over mistakes, regrets, and embarrassment. That I would rather make sure I don't learn the same lesson twice.

So when I say something that I probably shouldn't, step into mud on my way to school, or find myself in an awkward interaction, I try not to flinch. It's happened already, so why not just make a better move and win? If you can't salvage the situation, then don't worsen it by brooding over it, I often think to myself. And it's helped me win in many cases.

To win is to learn and grow from an experience and become a better version of oneself. It is allowing oneself to be teachable and resilient. It is also commendable to bounce off of undesirable situations, although that's not the main focus.

This code I live by has always helped me in my life daily. I am able to maintain a stoic stance in presentations, public speaking, and even in my interactions with people. While it may take a moment or two to re-stabilise from the failure, I try to shake it up eventually and just forge ahead.

Things may not always go as planned, but we can always fine-tune our responses and mindset by learning every day, living teachable, and using each failure as a stepping stone.