Learning From Mistakes: Failure To Growth
6 months in and... I failed 😔. I bought multiple items this month that were not needed. I will use them, but I broke my rule, I bought things I could live without. After the purchases the negative thoughts came flooding in- “You are a fraud; you don’t practice what you preach, why would anyone listen to you.” Then came the guilt.
I sat in the emotion for awhile then realized it was there to help me, not bring me down. I was feeling guilt because my actions were not in line with my goals and values. The emotion was my brain's way of trying to correct my behavior. And it worked! Guilt was my motivator to get back on track. I needed to feel it to stop, pay attention to my thoughts and actions, and change them.
I reframed the negative thoughts. Instead of getting down on myself for doing something I said I wasn't going to do, I allowed myself grace. I made it 6 months without buying stuff that wasn't needed! That is an accomplishment, not a failure. I stopped making additional purchases, stopped beating myself up for a minor set back, and reflected on the purchases I made.
One of the purchases was a small pool for our yard. We have places where we can go swimming, so it wasn’t a necessity, but it was 100% worth the money. We use it almost every day and have been making great summer memories. Not only has the purchase been worth it for the fun, but financially as well. When comparing the cost of the pool to the cost of driving to town everyday to swim we have spent less money then if we hadn't made the purchase.
Some things aren't a need, but are worth buying. Although I “failed” I now recognize a need for balance. A balance between saving money and making intentional purchases that enrich our lives. I will continue on my no-spend journey this year, but, in the future when buying things I will ask myself these questions:
How often will I use it?
What is the initial cost?
What is the long-term cost (maintenance, time, storage)?
Is it quality/will it last?
Will it make my life better/easier?
Finding the lesson in failure and adapting is where true growth happens.
What can you learn from a recent failure?