When mistakes happen, here’s how to stay motivated and keep moving forward—even on the hard days.
Sometimes, even the best-laid plans just… don’t work out.
The other day, I was working on a custom order for a customer who wanted notepads made with a special kind of paper. I’d carefully ordered what I thought was the perfect paper—the kind with a specific texture and writing experience she wanted. I was excited to get started.
But things started going sideways pretty quickly.
First, I couldn’t get my paper trimmer to cut the sheets evenly. I tried again and again, adjusting, testing, recutting—nothing worked quite right. I was getting frustrated, but I kept going because I just wanted this to be perfect. After what felt like forever, I finally got the sizes right and everything looked great.
Just as I was about to start assembling the notepads, something nudged me to test it out, just to be sure. I grabbed a pen and scribbled on one of the pages…
And my heart sank.
The paper didn’t have the effect that the customer had asked for. I’d ordered the wrong kind. After all that work, all that time, and all that trimming, I’d messed up the paper.
For a moment, I wanted to throw in the towel and walk away from the rest of the day. Maybe even cry a little, if I’m being honest.
But then a little voice in my head said, Keep going.
So I did.
I took a breath, reordered the right paper, and reminded myself that mistakes happen. It’s all part of the journey—especially when you’re building something by hand, with care and intention.
This isn’t a story about failing. It’s a story about adjusting, learning, and choosing to keep showing up even when things feel hard.
Sometimes things don’t go to plan. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t on the right path.
Tips on How to Stay Motivated When Things Go Wrong
If you’re in a similar spot—frustrated, stuck, or feeling like nothing is working—here are a few things that help me get through it:
- Take a step back.
Sometimes all you need is a few minutes away from the problem. A short walk, a deep breath, or even just standing up and stretching can shift your mindset. - Talk kindly to yourself.
Mistakes happen. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re learning. Replace self-criticism with compassion. - Break the problem down.
What’s the next right step? Don’t worry about the whole staircase—just take the next small action. - Remember your why.
Reconnect with your purpose. For me, it’s creating products that make everyday life feel calm, intentional, and simple. - Keep showing up.
You don’t have to feel motivated to make progress—you just have to start.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
So if today didn’t go the way you hoped—if you feel like you’re falling behind or messing things up—I hope you’ll give yourself some grace and keep going anyway.
Because staying motivated when things go wrong isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being persistent.