My brother left a comment the other day that I thought was worth sharing. It’s in response to the fear and failure side of creative pursuits and stepping out in new areas,
One thing I’ve learned about creative explorations is that you have to fail a couple times before you do anything great. These people who [unknowingly] foster this fear in us — the ones we think of as perfect — have failed many times before they wrote/made those things we love so much. Maybe what I mean to say is that you should focus efforts away from “What I could do if I knew I wouldn’t fail” and onto creating until you make something exceptional — which you will.
I figure he knows what he’s talking about. If you know Brandon, you know he’s the creative type.
The kind who will wear a powder blue suit just because or spray paint a gold phoenix on his white tux for prom or dye his hair every color of the rainbow (not all at once) or wear the same shirt everyday just like a cartoon character or design tattoos for the women in his life (still waiting on mine…just kidding…for now). He’s also a graphic designer and an uber-talented (he designed my logo).
I think identifying what we want to do, but don’t because we fear failing is important. It reveals a bit of the safe, comfortable tucked behind closed doors part of our heart.
But he has a valid point, we shouldn’t focus on failing, but pursuing. Whether your pursuit is creative or relational or fill-in-the-blank, keep pursuing.
Don’t fear failure. Failing is not necessarily bad…it’s a chance to try again, to dig deeper and find a bit more of yourself, the world, and God.
It’s a chance to grow.
Let’s keep doing this creative pursuing, not worrying about failing thing together.
If you haven’t linked up yet go ahead and join in If I Knew I Wouldn’t Fail (a name change? maybe?).
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