Embrace that life is meant to be experienced… not mastered.

This past Sunday, I dropped my son off at school for the 2nd semester of his freshman year (I almost cried but held it together).

My parting words included something along the lines of… “Take chances, make mistakes and don’t expect everything to be smooth.”

I chose this advice because I’m all too familiar with the opposite approach to life.

As a young adult, I was obsessed with being seen as successful. I assumed the best strategy for impressing others involved never failing at anything.

I avoided anything risky and buckled under even the slightest bit of adversity. (I dropped one of my first business courses because I got a C on an exam.)

All this striving left me tired, anxious, and unfulfilled.

As I matured, I began to embrace the idea that life is something to be experienced, not mastered. I began taking chances, stumbling from time to time and most importantly – learning.

Here’s the truth:

No one expects as much from you as you do of yourself.

Take a breath and offer yourself a little compassion.