Mistakes and Self-Image

 There are quite a few interesting educational theories out there who are describing the way that "grammatical mistakes" relate to the way that people have to negotiate between conflicting, different sets of rules. English, I think, is notorious for having exceptions, especially when it comes to prepositions. But what's interesting about this idea is that making a "mistake" doesn't necessarily get seen as a mishap or a malfunction in the mind: rather, it's about having to accept contradictory rules and find ways to decide between these conflicts. When I think of "mistakes" in this way, I am no longer saddled with unrealistic expectations that I will always "get it right", as though there were only one "right" to choose from. Instead, I might see mishaps as resulting from conflicting interests and ways of doing things.
   Whenever I am seen as making a mistake, I might want to consider: from whose perspective is it mistaken, and what does it reflect about the things I value or struggle with? In reflecting on the mistake in this way, I am not only thinking about how I can improve the situation, but I am also concerned with learning about myself. If I keep making the same mistake, is it reflective of a deficiency on my part, or might there be a conflicting perspective or priority inside me that takes precedence over getting that one thing "right"?
   When I can see the mistake in a broader context, I might choose other self images, rather than that of "the one who always messes up". I might choose to see that complexity sometimes necessitates making tough choices between different aims, such as that between efficiency and quality, or between enjoying a good rest and staying up to study. This can also help me to see that what others perceive as mistaken isn't a reflection of my value or the work that I do.