Stop, Back Up, Get It Right

Ever play a game of solitaire? Yes, I’m talking about the computer card game.  I’ve got to tell you, it’s one of my favourites.  Sometimes, playing a game of solitaire clears the cobwebs from my brain even better than a cup of tea in the afternoon.  Seriously.  And, admittedly, sometimes it’s just a bit of a distraction.  I can usually tell the difference, however, and choose appropriately when and when not to play a hand or two.

Anyhow, the last time I was playing, it seemed that there were no more moves for me to make, and therefore no possible options that would allow me to win the game.  Looking closer, however, it occurred to me that I could backtrack a bit.  I could pull down some cards that I had put up, thereby creating some options to shift things around and open up new card faces.  And, I could possibly win as a result.  Now, when I pull cards down that have already been put up, I lose points.  So really, I’m taking a risk every time I do this action, because I don’t know what I’m going to be able to turn up in the next round.  In other words, the choice to back up might not serve.  But I won’t know, unless I try.

I guess what I’m realizing is this.  Too often, there’s a way in which we tell ourselves that once a move is made — regardless of the context –  it can’t be corrected.  And while there may in fact be a point of no return, so to speak, often that point is a lot further along the path than we realize.  And until you reach that point, you actually can stop, back up and correct your course of action.  Granted, you’re taking a risk.  You might not be able to correct it the way you want to correct it.  And, you just might.  You won’t know, however, unless you take that risk.

Bottom-line:  wherever you’re at on your path — the path of today’s work, the path of your life’s work, or something in between, when you feel like you’ve made a mistake, you’ve likely got the option to back up and get things right.  You’ve just got to be willing to take the risk, rather than moving blindly forward until you reach the definitive point of no return.  Keep your eyes open, correct as you go and sooner or later you’ll get it right.  It’s a certainty.