Well hello there, Reader, I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to connect with you today.

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So let’s get it right out into the open, shall we: failing at something sucks. And when failure or making mistakes seem to stick around like gum on the bottom of your shoe, it can leave you feeling demotivated and maybe even like giving up.

Persistent mistakes - the ones that seem to stick around - suck.

Here's what sparked this in the first place: last week I published a podcast episode spotlighting the mistakes I had made in a previous episode with the objective of helping you as you face your own mistakes. (Sometimes embarrassing ones!)

The problem: this week - the one where I was looking back at the episode with so many mistakes in it - well, it had mistakes that snuck through my editing as well!

Oh my gosh!

These persistent mistakes sent me into a spiral of overthinking: should I switch my podcast editor? Maybe I need to go back to a previous editor that I LOVED to use - but then I remembered how much that editor sucked at transcribing, and so I decided against it.

But what should I do? My current editing software keeps messing me up!

My thoughts spun around those few points so many times this week I think I created a rut in my brain.

The end result: by the time Friday rolled around, I was in a funk. I felt down and discouraged about my podcast and frankly had a few moments of wondering if I should even keep going.

Isn't that the way discouragement works?

If it sticks around you long enough, it will kick you down until you find it hard to get back up again.

In order to work through these past few days, here’s one thing I’ve been practicing:

I’m taking my own medicine! I have shared repeatedly that mistake making IS A SIGN OF PROGRESS.

If you’re making mistakes, that means you’re actually trying to do something!

If you’re not making a single mistake, it’s likely because you’re not doing anything new with your English - or what you’re using it for has become too comfortable for you that you’re not challenging yourself anymore.

Remember: mistakes mean you’re taking risks and trying to use the English you have to communicate. That means you're doing the right thing! Using your English, even if you only have a little of it, will help you develop your skills over time.

With my ongoing podcast mistake situation, I had to tell myself this repeatedly this week: making mistakes with my podcast means I’m still making progress. I’m growing, and I’ll continue to grow and get better if I keep going. I had to change the things I was telling myself (I suck at this, maybe I should just give up!) Maybe you need to be telling yourself that today too.

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Prefer YouTube instead?

You can catch last week's episode here. (And subscribe to watch future ones!)

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