We hate making mistakes and being wrong because we don’t want to be judged, treated differently, or looked down upon. But the truth is that being wrong is not all bad. In fact, it can be a catalyst for growth, and according to York University, it can shape you into a better person. Here are 14 ways that being wrong positively impacts your life.
1. It gives you a chance to learn something new.
When you make a mistake, it brings new information into focus for you. Maybe you realize your friend’s not a fan of your playful jabs, or you discover a shortcut in your work that you never noticed before. Each mistake is a mini-adventure, potentially leading you to uncharted territory in your understanding of others, yourself, and the world around you. So next time you goof up, don’t just cringe—get curious!
2. It tests your creativity.
There are so many inventions that exist today because the creators’ first, second, or hundredth idea turned out to be wrong, but they kept fine-tuning it. The realization that you were wrong about something forces you to adapt, and think quickly on your feet to come up with a solution to the problem. It can prompt you to think outside the box, look at issues from deeper angles, and tap into hidden insights and potential.
3. It builds resilience.
Every time you face-plant into a mistake, you’re actually building up your resilience muscles. Being wrong teaches you that the world doesn’t end when you mess up. The sun still rises, your coffee still brews, and hey, you’re still breathing. Once you get that, really get it, it’s like you’ve unlocked a cheat code for life.
4. It keeps you humble.
When you do or get something wrong, it reminds you that you’re not perfect. You’re going to make mistakes because you’re human and there’s still a lot you haven’t figured out! It helps you reject overconfidence by keeping you on your toes and showing you that things won’t always go your way. You can’t be a winner all the time; you’re going to lose some and that’s okay.
5. It prompts self-examination.
Being wrong pushes you to look at situations more critically. It compels you to evaluate your words, behavior, actions, reasoning, and attitudes carefully to understand where you went wrong. In doing so, you may discover new information about yourself that can lead to growth in your mindset and improvements across areas of your life from personal to professional.
6. It allows you to rectify mistakes.
You can learn from your wrongs and figure out how to do better the next time around. Maybe the reason you failed that assessment was because you skipped preparation thinking you already knew what to expect. Maybe you shouldn’t have reacted the way you did during that argument with your partner. Whatever the situation is, you can take the lesson and make corrections where necessary.
7. It creates opportunities for change.
Think of being wrong not as a dead end, but a detour. You get to sift through the evidence, connect the dots, and have that “Aha!” moment. Maybe you realize you need to listen more, prepare better, or simply take a breath before reacting. The beauty is, that you’re not stuck with the mistake, you can change your approach.
8. It teaches flexibility.
No matter how badly you want it or how well you prepare, sometimes things don’t work out the way you want. You fall short of expectations. You don’t get that promotion or land that dream job. The relationship falls apart. Someone turns out to be different from who you thought they were. All those disappointing decisions and situations teach you to adapt and make the best of what you have.
9. It informs you of what truly matters.
When you screw up at work because your attention is divided, it can be an opportunity to think about your career; what you want out of it, or how you can build competence. When you make a mistake that costs you a relationship with someone you care about, it can serve as a wake-up call, pushing you to take stock of how you might be failing loved ones. It can help you see what you’re wasting time on and shine a light on the things you should be focusing on instead.
10. It helps your personal growth
Making mistakes is essential to growth, according to Harvard Business Review. Remember when you were a kid, and growth spurts were measured by marking your height on the doorframe? Well, being wrong is like that, but for your brain and character. Every time you’re wrong, you’re forced to reassess, to dig deeper, to look at things from new angles.
11. It helps you develop empathy.
One of the ways that being wrong makes you a better person is by teaching you compassion. When you fail or make mistakes, you learn to be more sympathetic to other people’s failings and mistakes. You know that they’re probably already beating themselves up because you’ve been in a similar position before. Because of that, you approach them with understanding and support because you’d want to be shown the same kindness if you were in their shoes.
12. It builds self-assurance and confidence.
When you learn from your wrongs and take steps to fix them, you build confidence in your abilities. You gain new knowledge, skills, or experiences that you can leverage in other areas of your life. And when you encounter similar situations in the future, you can navigate them with less anxiety and increased competence.
13. It exposes the gap in your knowledge.
We sometimes think we know all about a subject, and then a task, question, or conversation comes along and bursts that bubble. Being wrong can reveal your weaknesses, limitations, and blindspots. It can show you what you don’t know so you can bridge the knowledge gap and become a smarter, better-adjusted, and more authentic version of yourself.
14. It can reveal your true feelings.
Remember the scene in “Friends” where Rachel thinks she’s wrong about being pregnant and is instantly overcome with sadness and disappointment because despite her earlier claims, deep down she wanted a baby? Sometimes, you don’t really know how you feel about a person or an issue until you do something wrong and it unearths underlying emotions that you’re forced to confront.
