Mistakes don't define us. They refine us.
It was a bright Wednesday morning and Mr. Frank came to the Out-patient Clinic with a complaint of a slight headache which is non-abating. He was seen by a young doctor who documented his complaints. As part of his evaluation, his Blood Pressure was noticed to be averagely 220/120mmHg after two different checks. The doctor decided that a single dose of an antihypertensive combination will do the magic. With a smile and believe in his heart, Mr. Frank left the clinic.
Two days later, a man was rushed into the Emergency room with a Blood Pressure of 280/180mmHg and a history of loss of consciousness and inability to move his limbs. This was Mr. Frank. We would discover by a Computed Tomographic (CT) scan that he had bled into his brain and has had a hemorrhagic stroke. All efforts at resuscitating him proved abortive as the main affected part of his brain was his respiratory centers and in a matter of minutes, he was declared dead.
By the bedside were Mr. Frank's wife and Son, weeping uncontrollably. Also, by the door stood the young doctor who attended to Mr. Frank the previous day with guilt and shame written all over his face. "How could I have not made a better call two days ago", he said. "How could I have made such a mistake?" "I could have saved his life". These and many more were on his mind as the senior medical officer who attended to Mr. Frank motioned towards him and gave him a pat on the back and told "you might have made a mistake today but you have also learnt how save the lives of thousands of other hypertensive patients who will walk through your door in the future".
THE FEELING OF FAILURE CUTS REALLY DEEP
Let's pause a little bit on this story and answer these few questions. Have you ever been in a situation as this young doctor, feeling so bad about yourself after failing at something, especially something you knew you should have done right? Have you been in a space of time when you were backed to handle the reins of affairs in an organization but felt as though you are undeserving of such possibly due to some mistakes you have made in the past?
The innate nature of man is to be at his best at any given time but sadly, the reality of our imperfection stares at us daily, leaving us to be subject to luck at some time or the consequences of our action at other times. As life would have it, with a combination of a good pep talks and self-motivation, the guilt of a mistake should fade away. But what happens in a situation, just like that of the young doctor, when the effect of your mistake is so grievous and seems to hunt you like a plague?
THERE IS NEVER A SUCCESS STORY WITHOUT A MOMENT OF FAILURE
As difficult to believe as it may sound, the above statement holds truths and is worthy to reckon with in moments when you feel hunted by the realities of your mistakes. Even the holy bible recorded that God repented in his heart that he has created man, man whom he had beheld and validated as good and perfect. A quick question; if God could repent that he created man and needed to find a mechanism to salvage the mess that was created, why then beat yourself up?
Every great invention had hidden stories of mistakes and unsung tales of failures. A mistake is not the end of the road but just sharp bend leading to an entirely new adventure.
The young doctor eventually go ahead, after 10 more years of practice and learning, to be the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital.
-Sugar Ray Leonard
THE MORAL LESSON
Own your mistakes with pride and see them as life's lessons. Your are on a journey and this is just one of its many sharp bends.