Have you ever been trying to start a creative project but just never had the guts to do so?
Like painting a picture or writing a story that's been in your head for a long long time?
If yes,
Chances are you've been approaching in the wrong way.
You probably thought that this image or story needs to come out on the paper and be perfect right away,
Just like in your head.
Because hey,
It's coming from divine inspiration,
So it better be perfect,
Right?
Well,
After that you probably get stuck in fear and get paralyzed,
Because that seems absolutely impossible.
And just a hint,
It most likely is.
So you keep dreaming about doing it,
Maybe even start it,
But then the disappointment and the feeling of being incapable stops you from moving on.
I know that place way too well.
I've been there so many times for so many years,
Until I realized that I've been approaching it wrong all this time.
Think about it like this.
If you like singing,
As a hobby,
Would you consider giving a concert and planning to sing a song that you kind of,
Maybe know,
Maybe heard a couple of times,
But never actually practiced?
Of course not.
That's scary like hell,
And for the right reasons.
People who do improv,
They don't just do improv for the first time ever on stage for a whole show.
They practice how to improvise,
Until they know the routine and can slip into that space where they are in the flow and can give an amazing performance.
It all takes practice,
Even when it looks like it's just improvised.
That effortless performance of your favorite artist?
I promise you,
They've had tons of practice time.
So why would we need to perform a painting or writing a story perfectly for the first time around?
Why can't we just say,
You know what,
I'll draw it first in pencil,
Just for the fun of it,
Then I'll paint it with watercolor,
Impressionist style,
And then maybe get some oils to paint it on a canvas.
Why?
Because I can play like that.
Because practice is fun.
Or just say,
I'll do five versions of it in watercolor,
Not less,
But maybe more.
Or first I'll draw that figure until I have it in my hand exactly how I want to have it on the painting.
Then I'll practice the woods in the background until I feel like I got it nailed.
Then hey,
Let's put it all together and bam,
Now that can become a painting that you'll be happy with.
Just like the singer,
Who practices certain places of the song that don't feel quite there yet,
And then practices the whole song a gazillion times before she goes on stage to perform it the way she wants it to sound.
Just like that,
We can practice quote-unquote performing creative projects.
Small shift in perspective,
But it gives big results.
So let's do this.
Applause
