A No Mistakes Philosophy...On And Off The Tile.

No mistakes was frankly something I didn’t have much time to learn. My therapist taught me the Zentangle basics in 2018 and in 2019, despite many health issues, I was in Rhode Island making friends with people from all over the world. I often admired the picture of the original 102 tangles and never thought I’d be able to replicate anything so stunning. And now, 3 years later, I still could never replicate it. But what I’ve learned is that anytime I slipped and drew something I didn’t plan, I created something new. It may not be a Picasso, but it’s an original for sure! I thank my therapist for practically throwing me in her car to drive me into the Zentangle world. I’m tangling everyday and often end up falling asleep, and yup, that pen has made mistakes. But boy, did I get into a meditative mind. I thank the whole Zentangle gang for helping me realize that there’s a whole , big, beautiful world to make no mistakes…I’m just truly being myself!

No Mistakes. How refreshing. And not only no mistakes, but those things that we saw as mistakes are actually opportunities … not to be looked upon with shame or disappointment, but with curiosity and with hope.. with a gorgeous combination of inquiry and faith.

No Mistakes frees me to be able to enjoy the process and loose myself into relaxation and enjoyment. No Mistakes always me to be accepting and kinder to myself.

I don’t think I’m a perfectionist. It depends on the definition. I try very hard to do everything as it should be. But if it doesn’t work out for me, I can usually come to terms with it quickly. Gor myself. But not for people who might be watching and criticizing me. The “no mistakes” philosophy has taught me to face this criticism, leave the comfort zone, laugh at myself, learn about my mistakes, admit my mistakes and look for a new way without tearing my hair or panicking. It is such a wonderful and reassuring feeling for me that it gives me wings. Thank you for everything.

No Mistakes

Growing up, in my perfectionist mind, this was a given. Oh, sure, I heard the phrases from others. “There’s more than one way to do things.” Uh – no there isn’t. “Give yourself a break.” Not allowed to! “Not everything goes exactly right the first time.” Sorry, not in my book. Being a left-handed person in a right-handed world, I strove to match my creative endeavors with those around me, sometimes failing miserably. It wasn’t until I accepted the alternative definition, that everything I do is fine, is good, is me being me, that the whole meaning of “No Mistakes [Mis-takes]” made sense.

It’s not a mistake to have the health issues I have. How else would I have met some marvelous people or been able to cultivate the wonderful friendships that have developed? It’s not a mistake to acknowledge my own perceived shortcomings, as I become yet more empathetic to those who ache for a understanding support system. It’s not a mistake to learn to be gentle on myself in all things, to not give in to the paranoia of comparison. It’s not a mistake to be who I am, where I am, today.

Zentangle’s philosophy of No Mistakes has softened me, the pen in my hand merely laying there instead of a death-grip, just like my outlook on life is, now. It’s a matter of perspective, and each day I get to practice this method in my drawing, and in life itself. For this, I thank you.

I love the no mistakes philosophy and have learned to let go and know what I do is perfect no matter what and to take a mistake and change it into a beautiful opportunity. Thanks Zentangle!!!

The no mistakes philosophy of Zentangle has gotten me through may difficult times since Zentangle found me in 2013. During my second encounter with cancer in 2020, Zentangle got me through the chemo and many days that felt like I could just not continue. I had fallen away from Zentangle about 2 years prior and was brought back by the gift of 2 Zentangle books from one of our son’s friends. My 5 hours of chemo every 3 weeks became my true Zen time. I could make “no mistakes”. I could forget the world I was in at the moment and envision the future to come. The nights I could not sleep were soothed by the “no mistakes” tiles that got me through those nights and into the next day of hope. Simple somewhat straight lines and beautiful free curves became works of art. Each tile slowly blossomed before my eyes and helped to bring the cure I hoped for and needed. Today we are in a new home, a new beginning and I am back to enjoying more regular Zen time. Each day brings surprises, some not so good, but my Zentangle time helps me to accept even the mistakes we have made along the way. Thanks for helping me to find a true balance in my new world.

I’m a total perfectionist, never good enough. Never rarely satisfied with own results, even when drawing. With No Mistake Theory I continuously learn to be better with myself. I’m doing everything as well as I can at this moment. and that is enough. the zentangle community supports me because i get positive feedback there, due to the doubters in me. Thank you for your work

I work with people that have dementia and “no mistakes” is a very important lesson in their world. I taught Zentangle to 6 people with dementia from all parts of the world, over zoom a few months ago and it was amazing what the words “no mistakes” meant to these people. Some of them have started doing Zentangle on all kinds of mediums because of those words. Thank you Zentangle!!!

The “No Mistakes” philosophy helped to convince others to try the Zentangle method. My middle school students, friends, and family members were willing to try after we talked about there not being a mistake. When we practice, we talk about slips or drips being opportunities. Getting students to be willing to take risk on paper does transfer to taking risks in the classroom.

No Mistakes is one of the most important thoughts of this methode for me. I was confinced since my childhood that making mistakes was not allowed. This created a lot of pressure. Due to the explanation the same thought changed in a positive way. I learned that making mistakes is ok and (for me more important) it’s a great opportunity to create something new. Knowing it’s ok to make mistakes changed in feeling that making mistakes is ok. Life changing and still developing 🙏🏻🍀

I switched the work “mistakes” to “missed takes.” As in life there are missed opportunities, but I learn from those and continue. Sometimes the outcome is so totally different from what I expected, especially in my Zentangle practice. The original would have been great, but the end product is usually beautiful also.

I’m extremely self-critical with a real perfectionist tendency & always started over again when it didn’t look right or I thought I’d made a mistake. Tangling has given me a practical way of dealing with it & turning what I perceive to be a mishap when crafting or tangling into an opportunity. No mistakes reinforces my belief that God doesn’t make mistakes with our lives & that He can turn our wrong turns into something positive for Him to use.

It is so good to read about how the ‚No Mistakes‘ philosophy has changed and influenced so many people and how it gives people the strength to go on even if there are setbacks in our art process.
And most of all I love how we tanglers not only use and include this philosophy in our Zentangle practice but also use it in our lives even at the worst and darkest moments and turn them into beatable and even positive situations.
For me it is the most important philosophy.
Thank you for this beautiful blog post Molly!

I have been an elementary school teacher for 25 years. I began tangling years ago, and I shared my tiles with the kids. Each year, we discuss the idea that mistakes are a part of learning, especially when learning something new. The idea that there are NO mistakes took root for my students. We often say that we don’t understand something “yet”. These philosophies mesh well for a healthy mindset in my classroom and in my life!

The “No Mistakes” philosophy has had a huge impact on my art and my life. Most importantly, it has taught me to be kind to myself and not beat myself up for my mistakes.

I am an impatient artist with hands that have a natural shake. The no mistakes is a great reminder to work with the crooked line, etc. I know the touchups and shading is going to change how it looks. I was blessed to learn zentagle over 10 years ago from someone who’s become a good friend. We were zentangling together the other day and actually had the opportunity to tease her with the no mistakes reminder!

“No mistakes” is my favourite part of my Zentangle practice over the 12 years that I have been incorporating Zentangle into my daily art practice. I am reminded of a young man (15) that I met while sharing Zentangle in a group home for seriously troubled youth, I later learned that he had never to his memory drawn anything, the class was not optional so he participated. The no mistakes philosophy really spoke to him and by the end of the class he was creating beautiful images! After my class was break time and he got permission to skip his break (quite a big deal as the days are rigorously scheduled) to spend it with me learning more tangles. He went from morose to beaming and I hope the experience has served him well over time.

The No Mistakes philosophy of Zentangle is one of my favorite aspects of it. Personally, I have always struggled with accepting my work if it is not perfect. When I switched my thinking to No Mistakes, it freed something in me. The idea that there aren’t mistakes in my Zentangle, only opportunities to try something new. To see what unexpected possibility has now been introduced is such a different way to think about my work and life experiences.

Kindness is in short supply and I believe that is partly because of our loss of kindness to ourselves. “No mistakes” embraces the randomness, messiness and unpredictability of life and all the beautiful potential it embodies. I will take the time to participate in this philosophy and the self-healing it contains.

This really speaks to me. I don’t do resolutions but did decide this year is to work on me and try to become the best little me I can be. I love the part which says “when you approach your work with openness and welcome all parts of your creative process, you start to understand their purpose and role in the bigger picture.” This is exactly how not only in my art but also my life. I’m concentrating on the bigger picture. Thanks for the beautiful reminder

The no mistakes philosophy is always reminding me to keep going even when things seem to be going wrong. If I keep going, in drawing or in life, it’s amazing how often something beautiful and unexpected will emerge.

The “no mistakes” philosophy is one of the most precious concepts I have learned in Zentangle and in life. It’s also one of the most difficult to practice and to teach. I am grateful for your continued attempts to make it a reality for me in my life.

For me, the No Mistakes perspective is now a stepping stone for creating something extraordinary. I used to see it differently. I was taught to correct my mistakes and get rid of my weaknesses to become “perfect” in an imperfect world which basically meant to live up to expectations set by others, mainly teachers and parents. I was unfortunately never told that in real life getting to know my strengths is what matters the most and there is no such thing as making a mistake. I don’t use the word “mistake” anymore. I crossed it out of my personal dictionary. I replaced it with the word opportunity instead which expresses the true essence of this term and is much more potentially grow-wise than the word “mistake” that drags you down every time we pronounce it.

En scrapbooking quand on fait une erreur,on cache; au tricot on défait et on recommence, avec la méthode Zentangle j’apprends à accepter mes “erreurs” ou “defauts” dans d’autres domaines créatifs et dans ma vie, et j’aime ces moments dans ma bulles avec mes traits loin d’être parfaits mais qui sont là. Merci pour cette méthode de dessins qui fait du bien au corps et au moral!!!! Bisous de France