Browse
Top articles
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Try free for 7 days.
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
00:00
00:00
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about reframing the idea of what it means to make a mistake. So here's a quote by the thought leader, Nassim Taleb, who says, "A mistake is not something to be determined after the fact, but in light of the information available to that point." I'm going to say that one more time and really let that one sink in. "A mistake is not something to be determined after the fact, but in light of the information available to that point." So often our conceptualization of a mistake is based on what ensued after we made a decision. We made the decision the best we could, and then something happened that made us perceive that that must have been a mistake.
And while on some level you could argue that, okay, well, the decision I made led to this experience, so objectively, it could be perceived as a mistake. All of that is taken into consideration with the information that you have in hindsight, which is not the information you have available in the moment of making a decision. And so to label it a mistake can only be done when you have all of this extra data that you didn't have available to you at that point, which is one of the reasons I, I really love this quote. Which is that you can't actually evaluate a mistake after the fact, because it's over. The only thing that you can evaluate as a mistake is if you have an opportunity to align with your heart and what feels true and what you know to be true and right in this moment, but you choose something else.
I think that's a much better lens to view making a mistake through. And it also, I think, cuts ourselves some slack, recognizing that the best we can do each moment is to align with, with what feels true, to assess the data that we have available to us, the resources that we have to meet this moment, to really feel into it deeply and to think through it deeply. And then with all of that go, this is what I believe is right right now. And if we do that, that's not a mistake. What follows, it's not up to us.
We can't control it. But what we can control is assessing the situation, assessing what information we have at hand and making sure that we align to what feels right for us right now. And if we do that, then I believe it's impossible to make a mistake. Things might go wrong. They might be painful.
We might have unanticipated outcomes. But that's the way of life. That's the way of the universe. Our job is to meet this moment fully, assess what is right, right now, align ourselves to that, and then let go. Thank you for your practice.
Let's settle in for today's meditation.
What Is a Mistake?
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about reframing the idea of what it means to make a mistake. So here's a quote by the thought leader, Nassim Taleb, who says, "A mistake is not something to be determined after the fact, but in light of the information available to that point." I'm going to say that one more time and really let that one sink in. "A mistake is not something to be determined after the fact, but in light of the information available to that point." So often our conceptualization of a mistake is based on what ensued after we made a decision. We made the decision the best we could, and then something happened that made us perceive that that must have been a mistake.
And while on some level you could argue that, okay, well, the decision I made led to this experience, so objectively, it could be perceived as a mistake. All of that is taken into consideration with the information that you have in hindsight, which is not the information you have available in the moment of making a decision. And so to label it a mistake can only be done when you have all of this extra data that you didn't have available to you at that point, which is one of the reasons I, I really love this quote. Which is that you can't actually evaluate a mistake after the fact, because it's over. The only thing that you can evaluate as a mistake is if you have an opportunity to align with your heart and what feels true and what you know to be true and right in this moment, but you choose something else.
I think that's a much better lens to view making a mistake through. And it also, I think, cuts ourselves some slack, recognizing that the best we can do each moment is to align with, with what feels true, to assess the data that we have available to us, the resources that we have to meet this moment, to really feel into it deeply and to think through it deeply. And then with all of that go, this is what I believe is right right now. And if we do that, that's not a mistake. What follows, it's not up to us.
We can't control it. But what we can control is assessing the situation, assessing what information we have at hand and making sure that we align to what feels right for us right now. And if we do that, then I believe it's impossible to make a mistake. Things might go wrong. They might be painful.
We might have unanticipated outcomes. But that's the way of life. That's the way of the universe. Our job is to meet this moment fully, assess what is right, right now, align ourselves to that, and then let go. Thank you for your practice.
Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Duration
Play in-app
Scan the following QR code with your camera app to open it on our mobile app
Get Unlimited Access
A Mindfulness Plus+ subscription gives you unlimited access to a world of premium mindfulness content.
Email Missing
We couldn’t detect your email with the SSO provider you have selected.We are here to make a positive impact on the world. We never want to sell you something that hasn’t helped you live a better life. That’s why if you’re unhappy with any purchase from us, you have 30 days to get a full refund and your money back.
If you subscribed to Mindfulness Plus+ and are unhappy with your purchase, please get in contact with us within the 30-day period and we’ll refund your purchase.
Learn more about our Mindfulness Guarantee.
Mindfulness
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Private Browsing
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Annual membership
$0
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Thank you for joining us
Dive into the full library and enjoy all it has to offer!
Claim your free access
Create a mindfulness account and we’ll unlock this premium session in your account forever.
7-Days free trial, cancel anytime.
Complete a few quick questions to make your own personalized mindfulness plan.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Mindfulness
One membership to gain access to a world of premium mindfulness content created to help you live happier and stress less.