Inquisitive.me

When I got my puppy four years ago, I had this “perfect plan” in my head: raise him flawlessly from day one. No mistakes. No bad habits. No unlearning later. Just a calm, obedient, happy dog. Smart in theory… disastrous in practice.

I wanted him to stay calm around other dogs—but my own tension made him more reactive. Loose leash walking? My nagging only made it worse. Obedience? Too strict, shaky results, and honestly, a little less trust from him.

By trying so hard to do everything “right,” I ended up doing a lot wrong.

I forgot he’s a dog—not a robot or a mini human. I expected him to act based on my logic, not his instincts. I got frustrated. Sometimes angry. I expected too much, too soon. And that wasn’t fair.

Looking back, I see it clearly: I held him to the same impossible standards I hold myself to—perfection. But if I’m not perfect (spoiler: I’m far from it), how could I expect him to be?

I’ve shifted since then. Now I remind myself: good is good enough. As Jim Kwik puts it:

Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of it.

Every time something doesn’t go as planned—whether it’s dog training or treating a patient—I try to see it as a chance to learn. If my plan didn’t work, if I misjudged a situation, if I said the wrong thing or increased the load too fast, I might stumble. But there’s always a takeaway.

Funny enough, it was my dog who taught me that. Mistakes aren’t the end—they’re part of the process. The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it. (Yes, that’s Rafiki in The Lion King. And yes, the 1994 version is superior.)

Next time you catch yourself spiraling after a misstep, hit pause. Ask one simple question:

What can I actually learn from this?

This mindset changed how I approach everything—my dog, my work, my mindset, even how I treat myself when I mess up.

Because mistakes? They’re not a sign of failure.

They’re a sign you’re learning.

And that’s the thing—mistakes aren’t just setbacks. They’re opportunities. If we pause, reflect, and extract the lesson, even the most frustrating misstep can become a stepping stone. That’s exactly why I want to share a simple way to turn your screw-ups into growth.

🧪 Let’s Experiment

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Mistakes aren’t the end—they’re the beginning of growth.

We all mess up. That’s just life. No one’s perfect, no matter how much we’d like to pretend otherwise. The sooner we drop that fantasy, the easier it gets to actually move forward.

🎯 Try This:

Next time things go sideways, try writing an After Action Report (AAR). Break it down:

• What went wrong?
• What would you do differently next time?
• What actions led to the outcome?
• What actually worked?

🧠 Final Thought:

Failing isn’t a dead end; it’s data. It’s a gift, if you’re willing to unwrap it.

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Keep it simple, stay curious, and keep learning—you’ve got this.

Take care,

Carina 🦊