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How to overcome your mistakes

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TEDEd Animation

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People often describe failure as a teachable moment— a necessary stumble on our way to improvement. But learning from our mistakes isn’t always easy, especially when those failures are demoralizing, overwhelming, or just downright confusing. So what prevents us from turning our mistakes into mastery? Explore the biggest obstacles of learning from failure, and how to cultivate a growth mindset.

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Additional Resources for you to Explore

If you’d like to learn more about the science of motivation, do a deep dive into professors Lauren Eskreis-Winkler and Ayelet Fishbach’s paper, You Think Failure is Hard? So Is Learning From It. Their work explores why there may be more hurdles to the classic “teachable moment” than popular culture would like you to believe. You can also check out Fishbach’s 2022 book, Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation, for scientific insight and practical strategies on how to get yourself on the path to achieving your goals.

Visit the Society for the Science of Motivation website to stay informed on the field’s latest findings.

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Script Writer Dan Kwartler
  • Director Luiz Stockler
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer
  • Sound Designer Ana Roman
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Abdallah Ewis, Anna Bechtol
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Charles Wallace
  • Expert Consultant Lauren Eskreis-Winkler

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