On Sunday at church, I sat subsequent to a newly minted two-year-old. And two she was. Filled with vitality and persona, she had little curiosity in sitting nonetheless. However the secret about two-year-olds is that they need to be good. So I leaned over and requested her to fold her arms and be quiet for the prayer.
She folded her little palms, scrunched her eyes shut, and sat completely nonetheless for a great ten seconds earlier than returning to her regular standing as a ball of vitality. On the amen, she gave a convincing “Amen” herself, loud sufficient for all the congregation to listen to.
Now, by all accounts, she failed at staying quiet for the prayer. Whereas the prayer was lower than a minute lengthy, she maintained her composure for lower than a fifth of that. Her “amen” was lovely however manner too loud for our church tradition, the place amen is extra more likely to be muttered than shouted.
And but, she was thrilled along with her accomplishment. She had been reverent for a complete ten seconds! Which was ten seconds longer than she had executed earlier than.
She failed with pleasure.
When you’ll recall, failing with pleasure is without doubt one of the foundational ideas of improv. You attempt, you fail, and also you go ahead with pleasure. She tried her finest, and he or she celebrated that.
When you’re one of many billions of people that simply set New Yr’s resolutions, you’re going to fail, and it’s okay. It’s possible you’ll solely get 10 p.c of the way in which there, and that’s okay as nicely. Have a good time. You’re 10 p.c higher than you had been in 2023.
Or possibly you’re just one p.c higher. Or possibly you fall flat in your face and also you’re solely 99 p.c nearly as good as you had been final yr. Regardless, you fail with pleasure and take a look at once more. Perhaps subsequent week, my little two-year-old buddy will make it to 11 seconds of reverence. Perhaps it will likely be 5 seconds. The street to success isn’t a straight path up.
She centered on success.
Typically, once we adults fail, we get a lecture–both from our boss, partner, or, most frequently, ourselves. On this case, and most often, the lecture is pointless. She skipped the lecture and was pleased with herself for her success, small because it was.
As you go into 2024, you’re going to make errors. You’ll take dangers that can fail. Skip the lecture, deal with what you probably did proper, and take a look at once more. Sure, doing a autopsy to determine the errors is an efficient device for development, however provided that you employ it as a information for easy methods to enhance and never as a punishment for imperfect habits.
Do your finest, have fun your small enhancements, and when crucial, give a loud Amen.
