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"Nous devons accepter que nous ne prendrons pas toujours les bonnes décisions."

Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren Actress
Translations
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Quote meaning
Making the right decisions all the time is a hefty expectation, isn't it? The idea here is simple yet profound: we need to come to terms with the fact that we're not perfect decision-makers. Accepting that sometimes we'll get it wrong is a part of being human. It's a permission slip for ourselves to be imperfect, to learn, and to move forward without getting bogged down by the fear of failure.

Historically speaking, this notion pops up in various wisdom traditions and psychological theories. For instance, during the Great Depression, leaders and everyday people alike had to make quick, often uninformed decisions to survive. They couldn't always know the outcomes, and many decisions turned out to be mistakes. The idea helped them keep going despite countless uncertainties and setbacks.

Let's illustrate this with a real-life example. Think about Steve Jobs. Remember when Apple launched the Lisa computer in 1983? It was a disaster—commercially, at least. Jobs and his team poured years of effort and millions of dollars into it, only to see it fail spectacularly. But instead of letting that cripple his vision, Jobs accepted the flop, learned from it, and used those lessons to create the Macintosh, which changed personal computing forever. He embraced the misstep as part of the journey.

So, what can you do with this little gem of wisdom? First, cut yourself some slack. Next time you’re facing a tough decision, don’t freeze up with the fear of getting it wrong. Make the best choice you can with the information you have, and be ready to adapt if things don’t go as planned. Learn to pivot. Every decision, right or wrong, brings you closer to understanding what works and what doesn’t.

Now, let’s paint a picture. Imagine you’re starting a small business. You've got this brilliant idea, and you’re all in. You make a series of decisions: branding, marketing strategies, product launches. Some of them hit the mark, but others—well, not so much. Maybe you invested heavily in a marketing campaign that didn’t get the return you hoped for. Instead of beating yourself up, you analyze what went wrong. Was it the audience? The timing? You gather the data, tweak your approach, and try again. Each misstep isn’t a failure but a stepping stone.

Think about it as if you're learning to ride a bike. The first few times, you wobble and fall. It’s not about those falls; it’s about getting up, adjusting your balance, and pedaling forward. The falls are part of the process, not the end of it.

In essence, the heart of this quote is about kindness to ourselves. It's about recognizing that perfection is a myth and that growth comes from trial and error. So next time you’re caught up in decision-making, remember: it's okay if you don’t always get it right. What matters is that you learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. After all, it’s through our imperfections that we often find our most significant strengths.
Related tags
Acceptance Decision-making Forgiveness Human error Imperfection Life lessons Perseverance Personal growth Resilience Self-awareness
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