Decisions. You make them every day, every hour. Some are small, forgettable moments; others change your life entirely. Curious thing, though—together they form the path you walk. The good ones, the questionable ones, and yes, even the flat-out bad decisions.

And if you’re like me, you might want every choice to be the “right” one. Safe, smart, guaranteed. Who wouldn’t? Bad decisions bring regret, uncertainty, and a nagging sense of what if...? But here’s the truth we often ignore—it’s impossible to choose right every single time.

Instead of fearing mistakes, what if we embraced them? What if we saw them for what they truly are? Lessons in disguise.

Here’s why bad decisions might just be the best thing to happen to you.

Let's look at the decision-making process in a different way. Here are a couple of thoughts:

Each choice, even the messy ones, tells a story about you. Your values. Your perspective. Your willingness to take that step.

There’s a certain beauty in owning your decisions—successes and slip-ups alike. Ever heard of the “Self-Determination Theory” by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan? They say autonomy, the ability to make your own choices, is essential for personal growth and happiness.

When you make decisions—even imperfect ones—you take ownership of your life. You grow. You learn.

I remember the shift in my own life. I spent years working as a marketing director in large corporations. High stakes. Calculated strategies. Everything by the book. My career was building up perfectly, but something felt...off. It didn’t excite me anymore.

Deep down, I craved something meaningful. Something with real impact. That’s when I made the bold (and, honestly, terrifying) decision to leave the corporate world. I leaped into uncharted waters to create CODDY from scratch. Looking back, it was clunky. Mistakes were made. But it was my choice. And it shaped CODDY into the success it is today.

Here’s an unexpected secret: bad choices can show you the way forward.

It’s like wandering off your planned route on a trip. At first, you panic. Then, you notice the hidden gems you’d never have found otherwise.

Take my experience with an early CODDY course. We built a sophisticated and ambitious program for kids. It flopped. The material was too complex for beginners. Parents were confused. We could have given up. Instead, that failure taught us the magic of simplifying tech education. Breaking it down to basics, fostering teamwork, and sparking curiosity in young minds.

Real talk. Even the smartest, most logical people get it wrong. Psychologist Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice, said it best: the more options we have, the easier it is to regret whatever we pick.

Some decisions hurt. Some feel like they backfire. But every wrong move teaches you resilience. It’s how you learn to adapt and take life as it comes.

Perfect decisions? No one out there has a 100% track record. And you shouldn’t expect to either.

Failing is Just Another Way to Learn

Think about learning to ride a bike. Would you even try if you were too scared to fall?

True growth comes from stepping into the unknown. It’s messy. Frustrating. Sometimes even humiliating. But you come out stronger.

It reminds me of Carol Dweck’s concept of the “growth mindset.” People with this mindset view challenges as opportunities instead of roadblocks. Their mistakes? Just stepping stones to something greater.

There’s Always Good in the Bad

It can be tough to find, but there’s always a silver lining.

Take a failed relationship, for instance. Instead of drowning in regret, think of what it taught you—what you value, what you need, what you won’t settle for next time.

Or say your child suddenly hates their hobby. Try something new. Their interests shift as they explore, and mistakes guide them closer to their true passions.

And sometimes, there’s no clear “right” decision at all. It’s a choice between two imperfect paths. And you learn to trust yourself to walk whichever one you pick.

Here’s the kicker. No one—not your family, friends, or advisors—walks in your shoes.

I used to be that person who ran every decision past someone else. Should I take this step? That one? What do you think? Every single move felt like it needed external validation.

But you know what? That approach gets exhausting.

The best decisions I’ve made weren’t the “safe bets” others recommended. They were the gut-feeling ones. The ones where I trusted myself and my vision. CODDY wouldn’t exist today if I hadn’t followed that instinct.

Don’t Be Afraid to Go Wrong

The next time you’re faced with a tough call, lean into it. Sure, it might not go as planned. But the lessons it brings? Priceless.

Growth lives on the other side of failure. Don’t fear bad decisions. Use them. They’re a part of your story.

And your story, imperfect as it is, is worth telling.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from a bad call? Share your experience—your story might inspire someone else to make their leap!