I’ve got a problem, and I think you might too.

I have regret.

We’re taught to not dwell on the past but there’s definitely moments I wish would’ve gone differently.

When I look back on those coulda, woulda, shoulda’s, there’s plenty of reasons why I wish things had gone differently:

And there’s moments like this for all of us.

Had they gone differently, we’d probably be happier then and more satisfied now.

At least for me, I look back on most of those moments and see a pattern.

In all those scenarios, I didn’t trust my gut.

I didn’t truly know the answer for that exam question and yet I chose “A” on some weak logic when I just knew it was “C.”

That “risky” idea I failed to mention in the moment? I mean, there’s a reason I thought about sharing it.

I waited too long to apply for that new job, and now I’m thinking about what could’ve been…

Those moments are ones we pass off to the all-powerful idea of logic.

For whatever reason, we have this little voice we choose to ignore for the sake of “making sense.”

And that’s my problem: I incorrectly ignore my gut and it leads to regret.

Regret’s uncomfortable, but I also see it correlating to times I left satisfaction, happiness, and even outward impact on the table.

And maybe it’s just me, but for every time we trust our gut and it’s wrong, doesn’t it just feel like there’s 3 other times it’s right??

“Make mistakes, just not critical ones.”

If you’re going to remember anything from this post, I ask that it’s the quote above.

I’ll say it again.

“Make mistakes, just not critical ones.”

One of my favorite people in the world - a fantastic human being - said this when I was in high school and it’s stuck with me ever since.

And for so many reasons.

At face value, it’s good advice.

If you’re not going to study for the exam, at least show up for the class and take the test.

At the time, his example to me was, “you can date the wrong girl, but don’t get her pregnant.” For high school, that was genuinely useful. lol.

Again, good advice.

But dig a little deeper and I think the saying’s life changing.

Now, I see it as giving me permission to take risks.

To speak up and share my idea even if it sucks, or bubble in “C” on the exam because it’s the first letter of my name and I’ve got a good feeling about it even though “A” sounds better on paper.

I see the saying as affirming it’s okay to take the risk and trust my gut.

The permission comes from encouraging mistakes that are minuscule, maybe a little bigger, but still ones that provide experiences.

Experiences to learn, to gain, to handle failure, and to get closer to happiness and satisfaction without serving a life sentence for it.

So the Gut Check is simple:

When your gut says one thing and logic says another, ask yourself one question: if I'm wrong here, is it recoverable?

Listening to that gut feeling that you’re sober enough to drive isn’t what I mean. That’s a critical mistake.

But the test answer or sharing an idea that might sound dumb? Those are risks we should take more often.

Listening to your gut feeling that the person you don’t know at the party is worth talking to isn’t leading to a critical mistake. Your life’s not changing for the worse because you had an awkward conversation with them and now they’re looking at you funny.

But on the flip side, that effort to approach them might just lead to a best friend for life. Or a successful business partner.

You never know unless you listen to your gut and bubble in “C” on that exam.

There’s too much in our lives being left on the table.

Too many opportunities to find more happiness or make a greater impact aren’t being capitalized on.

Mistakes are part of life, but so is success. So is satisfaction. So is doing what you love. Those are part of life too.

I think I sometimes forget that I’m supposed to have those things in life - we’re supposed to have those things.

But some of the best joys of life don’t come without taking some risk.

Without trusting your gut.

So again, I’ll say it :)

“Make mistakes, just not critical ones.”

What was the last good mistake you made?

I hope you leave this five minutes a little lighter than when you started.

-Cal

P.S.

How’s that show you’ve been watching lately? Did you wait to get snacks this time? Put away the phone?

I think I probably did 50% of the time. How’d you do?

Reply to this email and let me know!

Or if you want to talk The Mandalorian, we can do that too :)