Friday, August 19, 2011

Let's Make Mistakes...

Friday, August 19, 2011  ,  68 comments


Where we are today is a result of the paths we took, what we are today is a result of the choices we made. Some of the choices we made happily, some not so happily; the result we might choose to love or hate. What makes us make these choices? Is it a simple decision between right and wrong or good and bad, or is it something much more mysterious than that. We always try to make the best possible choice, but then how good are our ‘right’ decisions? Do we waste too much time, effort and emotion trying to be right, when the ‘apparent’ right decision we make is equally wrong? Is it possible to enjoy life not trying to be too right? Is it a mistake to make mistakes?


People are believed to take two different approaches while solving problems or making choices, one is emotional and another logical/rational. However, a recent discovery challenges our orthodox notions. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio’s research shows that we would not be able to make any decisions if the emotional part of our brain is damaged. Rationality is over-hyped. There are no rational decisions, they are always emotional. What we are and where we are is because of our emotions, and not because of our rationality. 

The strange results of this experiment took me back to our ancient scriptures. There are no good or bad, there are no rights or wrongs. Our definitions of good-bad and right-wrong are all creations of our emotional brain. So, a person without emotions will never be able to make a choice because to him there is no preferred choice. Another interesting psychological phenomenon is revealed by that same research. Decision process starts first in our subconscious mind and then the conscious one, making our feeling of ‘consciously making a right choice’ an illusion.

Same thing was proven almost 30 years ago by Libet (Libet, B., Gleason, C.A., Wright, E.W., and Pearl, D.K. (1983). Brain 106, 623–642). According to Libet’s Experiment your subconscious decides what you are going to do 300 milliseconds before you actually take that decision! If our conscious mind is not deciding for us, it puts some serious doubts on our free will. Are we mistaking randomness for free will? That can be debated as personally none of us would like to lose our free-will.

Experiments have also shown that instinctive decisions are better decisions. Right and wrong is just our perception, giving too much importance to it is only going to make you and your life serious. Why so serious? Lives aren’t meant to be serious. Everyday we are trying hard to survive tomorrow as if we are going to live forever. None of us are eternal. Life is like an ice-cream, enjoy before it melts. Listen to your heart (that subconscious emotional part of your brain), and you will be happy. No points struggling to be right, as you are going to be wrong most of the time anyways. Let go of that feeling of righteousness and make some mistakes, weather you learn from it or not, at least you will be happy. Mistakes aren't bad, they can be fun. Let’s live, and not just survive.

68 comments:

  1. Punit DubeyAugust 19, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Exactly, It's we who decide What's a Mistake and what has gone Right... We are here to Live, either way, not just to spend the seconds we have been gifted with...

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  2. Saru SinghalAugust 19, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    On a lighter note, I was eating ice-cream when I was reading your post. Anyways, for me mistakes are always a learning process. Nicely written...Live life beyond existing:)

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  3. KPAugust 19, 2011 at 11:06 PM

    Yep.. there is no right or wrong.. so  why not just live?

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  4. jidhujoseAugust 20, 2011 at 3:36 AM

    Experience makes the man perfect. Failures learn more than winners. 

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  5. LilangelAugust 20, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    So True...More than often, we spend our lives thinking about the mistakes that we think are "mistakes" and forget living in what we have now. Love the tag line :) Follow your heart, make mistakes and Live Life :) Nice post !!! 

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  6. Kunal MalviyaAugust 20, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    Mistakes are the corner stones of human progress. No one stood on their two feet without falling first.
    We learn as we grow. Everytime.  :)

    we should accept mistakes. As long as, we dont screw big time..I think we are allowed to do as many as we can  :P

    Kunal

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  7. Ege DenneAugust 20, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    When pain-train come to town you can join or let it pass ;)  I tihnk everything is created by us so we can learn how it feels like. And some pain are more difficult to se the effort of than others. So when I get worry, it really is a sign for me to take a look at why, when and how... If I'm ready to let go or not, of past painful memories. So, I think every mistake is a hidden gift, to my self. 

    I do have a translation-button on my blog, there you fing english and other languages.  ;) 

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  8. EzaziAugust 20, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    I should totally print this post and plaster it somewhere in my bedroom. Loved every word.

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  9. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    lol...that would be an honor :)

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  10. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    thanks Ege...every mistake is a hidden gift indeed...

    of those translation buttons...most of the time they translate in a weird way... you get the meaning but not the feel...

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  11. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    we learn as we grow...and grow as we learn...
    you are allowed to do as many as you want :)

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  12. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    thanks Lilangel...true, let's follow our hearts...that's the best way :)

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  13. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    true :)

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  14. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    yes...just live happily ever after...

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  15. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    hope it didn't melt ;)...enjoy life like you enjoyed that ice-cream :)
    thanks Saru...

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  16. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    yes...let's live :)

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  17. alissaAugust 20, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    I just had a talk with my student about making mistakes earlier this week.

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  18. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    really! what did u say?

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  19. sharmaanuAugust 20, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    very well said. mistakes are okay if we learn something. what if we keep on doing mistakes again n again without learning anything?   ;) nice post.

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  20. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    why learn? have fun ;)

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  21. Madhulika .August 20, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    Nicely said..!!!  ;)
    I don't believe in learning from other's mistakes.. Make your mistakes.. ;)
    and yeah... don't repeat the same mistakes.. cause their are a lot new ones to try ;)

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  22. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    lol...yes, a lot new ones to try :)

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  23. ArtiAugust 20, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    I wish I could just paste that sweet emoticon right here in the comment section!
    Every moment of our life, whether right or wrong, try to be that emoticon... it has the power to convert even the wrongs into rights... that is the message I am taking along with me from here :)

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  24. Jyoti mishraAugust 20, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    No one touches perfection
    Until one sits on top 
    Of the hill of mistakes 
    With a bag of 
    Corrections and retakes. Mistakes are part of life and u have scientifically explained the process and its significance :) I wonder is it even possible to live a life without mistakes.

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  25. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    that's a good one :)
    thanks Arti :)

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  26. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    yes... but i would not like to be perfect either...we can't live without mistakes, but somehow we always try to...:)

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  27. Jyoti mishraAugust 20, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    exactly the "keep on trying" attitude is the driving force of our lives.

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  28. Gargi GuptaAugust 20, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Why so serious! Yes that's the way...listen to your heart and you won't regret any mistakes....
    Someone has said....never regret anything because at one point it was exactly what you wanted :)

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  29. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    true :)

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  30. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    exactly...but who said that? was it u?

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  31. PrateekAugust 20, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    Profound. More like Dig your own grave and come out. 

    You gave me something to fodder upon. 

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  32. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    lol...kind of...digging grave can be fun :)

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  33. ChandanaAugust 20, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    I think we do spend a lot of time analyzing and re-analyzing our decisions. If we can just accept that what is past is past and move on, life would be so much simpler! But that's easier said than done! Its a fine balance.... you shouldn't spend too much time brooding nor should you change your mind every other day!

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  34. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    thanks for your comments Chandana....yes...but it is difficult to say how much we really analyze or re-analyze if we are controlled by out sub-consciousness...:)

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  35. SujathaAugust 20, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    why am i so relieved to read this post?!! 
    coz its so true. yes emotions behind our choices/decisions.  n instinctive ones r better. 
    most ppl always refuted it. but now i've ur well-researched post to bak me :) THANK U SUB 

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  36. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    You are welcome Sujatha :)

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  37. Hariharan ValadyAugust 20, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    Coming to think of it, yes, I think we take all decisions emotionally. We use rationale/ logic to justify an emotional decision. I agree with the conclusion- listen to your heart.

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  38. SUBAugust 20, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    glad you agreed...thanks a lot...:)

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  39. Ege DenneAugust 21, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    Yes I know, but thats how it is with any language ;)  I have given you an award, check my blog :)

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  40. the other side of meAugust 21, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Very nice.. a very positive note..its not important whether we made the right choice or not,its the learning part that matters the most..

    ''Never take life seriously, no one comes out alive anyway''

    Take care and have a nice day

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  41. SUBAugust 21, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    yes...thanks..that's my fav quote :)

    take care 

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  42. SUBAugust 21, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    yes it is...and thanks a lot :)

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  43. ChintanAugust 21, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    voila, good that am an emotional person :D Fuck Rationality haha

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  44. SUBAugust 21, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    ye sure...fuck it ;)

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  45. WarwinrulesAugust 21, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    Interesting post, Sub.. like, Wow!! :)

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  46. SUBAugust 22, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    Thanks Warwinrules :)

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  47. ShasAugust 23, 2011 at 12:57 AM

    Its good to make mistakes but we can't afford to be casual in cases where our decisions affects others. No matter how right or wrong we are in our final decision we should be willing to accept whatever result it would ensue. Enjoyed reading your post. Keep it up! 

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  48. SUBAugust 23, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    Thanks :D
    I have faith in my heart...and then no matter how much you think, you cannot make everyone happy :)

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  49. JanhviAugust 23, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    The time we spend rationalizing a decision which we take anyway, can be spent in actually living.
    GREAT post. :)

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  50. SUBAugust 23, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    precisely :)

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  51. AshwiniAugust 23, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    That was so much I did not know about the emotional part being involved in decision making
    I have to agree with you, Life has to be enjoyed, instead of worrying over what we did in the past, or what we're going to do about in the future.
    And, I read this from somewhere.
    "If you are unable to make a decision with the 2 choices before you, Toss a coin in the air. Do not worry about the Outcome, coz, when the coin is in the air, you'll know what your heart is hoping for"
    I guess, thats where sub consciously we make the decision.

    Nice post :)

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  52. SUBAugust 24, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    you are probably right....thanks for your comments Ashwini :)

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  53. stuti dhyaniAugust 26, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    Enough has been talked about conscious and subconscious. But, true, if we could live our lives like there is going to be no tommorrow , if what the Mayans have said will come out true ,categorically, in 2012..then i am sure half our qualms,half of our reservations anf half of our apprehensions would disappear. but again, there is an 'if' there..and there will be an 'if' always..
     

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  54. SUBAugust 26, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    thanks for your comments Stuti.....:)
    why care about 2012? forget 'ifs' and 'buts', lets enjoy now ;)

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  55. SushmaspageAugust 27, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    huh that was an amazing study  u summed up. our decision factors, their implications and how often do we ponder over the ones concluded.

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  56. SUBAugust 27, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    thanks Sushma :)

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  57. Derebail2008August 29, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    Let us survive today tomorrow will take care of itself seems to be philosophy, i liked the comparison of life to Ice cream.  Enjoy the dessert before it melts

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  58. SUBAugust 29, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    yes indeed...thanks for your comments :)

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  59. KirklopsAugust 29, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Failure is fine. Ask Robert the Bruce.
    Interesting post, btw.

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  60. SUBAugust 29, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    it is...:D
    thanks for your comments

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  61. Satish-oneeyeclosedAugust 29, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    Very nice....without failing a few times, it is tough to achieve anything worthwhile. And yes, while the highly educated mind often gets into the quagmire of figuring out Algorithms,  others quickly latch on to 'uses', the reason why kids always seem to use Cell Phones and iPads better and faster :)

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  62. 7sunita3August 29, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    yes you should not let the fear of failure or mistake stop you from doing what you want...nice post here SUB :) :)

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  63. SUBAugust 29, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    true....thanks for your comments Satish :)

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  64. SUBAugust 29, 2011 at 8:20 PM

    exactly :)....thanks Sunita :D

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  65. Nitin JainAugust 30, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Mistaking Randomness for Freewill ! Amazing insight SUb !

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  66. VenuAugust 30, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Nice explanation and comparison about life. Your blog is very nice.

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  67. SUBAugust 30, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    thanks Nitin :)

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  68. SUBAugust 30, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    Thanks Venu :)

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