ADULTING101: Embracing Imperfections - Why Success and Mistakes Can Coexist?

 

I was  stumbled upon this issue about an accomplished individual sharing his impressive achievements—a master’s degree, research presentations abroad, and a PhD in progress—on a game show named Throwbox, Showtime in GMA 7 that fucoses in history trivia . While his credentials were undeniably impressive, what stood out to me was the harsh backlash he faced after getting a simple trivia question wrong. The audience, instead of celebrating his success, was quick to judge him for his mistake, as if one error diminished everything he had worked for. It made me think about how easily we forget that success and failure are not opposites but two sides of the same coin. This experience highlighted a valuable life lesson: too much flexing can set unrealistic expectations, but our flaws and accomplishments can coexist.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with being proud of what we’ve achieved. In fact, I believe we should take moments to celebrate our hard-earned victories. Whether it's academic success, career milestones, or personal growth, accomplishments reflect dedication, effort, and resilience. However, when we let our pride turn into excessive flexing, we create a narrative that makes perfection the goal. This pressure can be overwhelming, both for ourselves and those watching, and it leads to unrealistic expectations that no one can live up to. We start to believe that success means never making a mistake—and that’s where the problem lies.

The reality is, no matter how successful or educated we are, everyone makes mistakes. Being accomplished doesn’t grant us immunity from error. When we put too much emphasis on showing off our achievements, we place ourselves in a position where even the smallest slip-up can overshadow everything else. It’s as if society expects flawless performance from those who have reached a certain level of success. But the truth is, everyone, no matter how successful, is human. We all have our moments of failure, and that’s okay.

What’s important is finding a balance between confidence and humility. We should absolutely take pride in our achievements, but we must also remain humble and accept that we’re not perfect. True confidence comes not from pretending to be flawless but from acknowledging our imperfections and learning from them. When we embrace our mistakes as part of the learning process, we demonstrate resilience and maturity, showing that success isn’t about avoiding failure but about growing through it.

Rather than tearing people down for their mistakes, we should start recognizing that accomplishments and flaws can coexist. Just because someone is successful in one area doesn’t mean they won’t make a mistake in another. Our worth isn’t defined by a single error or achievement but by our overall journey. We need to be more forgiving, both of ourselves and others, when things don’t go perfectly. When we show empathy and understanding, we create a more supportive environment that encourages growth rather than perfectionism.

The truth is, life is about progress, not perfection. We’re all on our own unique paths, constantly evolving and learning along the way. Mistakes are simply part of that process. They don’t define who we are or what we’re capable of achieving. If we can shift our mindset from focusing on perfection to embracing the balance between success and failure, we can live more fulfilling lives, free from the pressure of unrealistic expectations.

In the end, it’s about recognizing that we’re all human. We’re allowed to be proud of our accomplishments, but we should never forget that our flaws are part of what makes us who we are. By learning to accept both sides of the coin, we can live with more authenticity and less fear of judgment. So let’s celebrate our wins, embrace our imperfections, and remember that success and failure go hand in hand. That’s where real growth happens, and that’s what makes life truly meaningful.

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