#221: Mistakes as Milestones: A New Mindset for Growth

Not all mistakes are created equal. Sure, some need to be addressed and fixed. But others? They’re signs of progress. They tell you that your ears are sharper, your awareness is expanding, and your technique is evolving.

Let’s put it in context. We live in a world that’s constantly trying to correct us. Type an email, and autocorrect will instantly jump in. Google will underline a word in red, and we assume it's wrong—just because it looks unfamiliar. But autocorrect doesn’t always get it right. And neither does your inner critic. Just because something feels like a mistake doesn’t automatically mean it is.

In harp practice, this same principle applies. That little stumble in a piece might not be a sign of backsliding. It could mean you're playing at a higher level and noticing subtleties you didn’t even hear before.

Consider this: I was deadheading flowers in the garden the other day. At first, I only saw a few to snip. But as I trimmed those, more and more faded blooms seemed to appear. I hadn’t missed them before—I just hadn’t noticed them. My attention had shifted, and I was seeing more clearly. Not because the garden got worse, but because I was more tuned in.

This is exactly what happens in harp practice. The more you refine your skills, the more aware you become of tiny imperfections. And that’s not failure—that’s progress.

But here’s the tricky part: this increased awareness can lead you down a rabbit hole of endless correction, and that’s where momentum can stall. If you’re constantly fixing, reworking, and over-analyzing, it can feel like you’re never getting anywhere.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about how to change your outlook so you can recognize the difference between real issues and natural growing pains. We’ll explore how to use mistakes as guideposts, not roadblocks, and how to keep yourself out of the pit of perfectionism. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to keep your progress moving forward—even when your practice feels messy.

Just remember: all mistakes are not created equal. Not every mistake is a problem that needs to be addressed. Some mistakes are actually signs of growth and momentum.

Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode:

• Finish strong in the final week of our Hub Summer Challenge
• Check out the new Learn section in the Harp Mastery®  app.
• Join the group coming to our October Teachers Retreat
• Harpmastery.com

Get involved in the show! Send your questions and suggestions for future podcast episodes to me at [email protected]

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