When we are children, it is accepted that our job is to learn. We are not expected to know what we don’t know, or to ‘get it’ the first time we try. But once we become adults, if we don’t know something, we pretend that we do or that we’re not interested if it will make us look dumb. How can we possibly learn everything we’re interested in between the years of 0 and 18 or 21? Why is trying something new, as an adult so fear inducing?
I’m taking a writing course. My teacher is an Ivy League School MFA graduate. My classmates are honest to goodness writers. They are extremely gracious and generous. I’m so out of my league. But I’m having the most wonderful time. I am learning and growing so much.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to try but talked yourself out of it because you didn’t want to risk embarrassing yourself? Guess what? The fact that there is a ‘thing’ you want to try means that you should be trying that very thing! Your essential self is prompting, urging, leading you on the path that you should go. If the only thing holding you back is fear, then you must go for it!
I took my first piano lessons in my adulthood. I suffered through recitals, boy did I suffer! Did I embarrass myself? Big time! And my family too…but they grinned through it and kept encouraging me – they are a very special bunch. Now I am a piano teacher who completely empathizes with my students who don’t want to do recitals. Do I make them do recitals? You betcha! Because I know that the process is what grows us as people.
I risked downhill skiing last year. I’m sure I looked foolish on the bunny hill, but I did not care, because I was having so much fun. (And I knew I would probably never see any of those people again, and if I did, they would not recognize me without my helmet!)
In order to become what you must become you must be willing to try even if you suck! But what is worse than sucking is staying stuck, staying the same, staying small. Step out. Risk. You won’t die, I promise. If there is something you want to do, be willing to do it badly. Don’t expect that if you’re not great out of the gate, that it’s not for you. Give yourself credit for starting, for trying, then commit to practicing until you are somewhat skilled. You have no idea how long that will be, so you can’t put a time limit on it. Learning piano in 3 weeks may be possible for a genius child, but it took me 10 years before I could play reasonably in front of people.
Am I going to write a bestselling novel anytime soon? Probably not. But maybe! I’ve given up trying to figure things out before I start. I have no idea where learning writing skills will take me, but I am going to enjoy the journey.
I’m taking a writing course. My teacher is an Ivy League School MFA graduate. My classmates are honest to goodness writers. They are extremely gracious and generous. I’m so out of my league. But I’m having the most wonderful time. I am learning and growing so much.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to try but talked yourself out of it because you didn’t want to risk embarrassing yourself? Guess what? The fact that there is a ‘thing’ you want to try means that you should be trying that very thing! Your essential self is prompting, urging, leading you on the path that you should go. If the only thing holding you back is fear, then you must go for it!
I took my first piano lessons in my adulthood. I suffered through recitals, boy did I suffer! Did I embarrass myself? Big time! And my family too…but they grinned through it and kept encouraging me – they are a very special bunch. Now I am a piano teacher who completely empathizes with my students who don’t want to do recitals. Do I make them do recitals? You betcha! Because I know that the process is what grows us as people.
I risked downhill skiing last year. I’m sure I looked foolish on the bunny hill, but I did not care, because I was having so much fun. (And I knew I would probably never see any of those people again, and if I did, they would not recognize me without my helmet!)
In order to become what you must become you must be willing to try even if you suck! But what is worse than sucking is staying stuck, staying the same, staying small. Step out. Risk. You won’t die, I promise. If there is something you want to do, be willing to do it badly. Don’t expect that if you’re not great out of the gate, that it’s not for you. Give yourself credit for starting, for trying, then commit to practicing until you are somewhat skilled. You have no idea how long that will be, so you can’t put a time limit on it. Learning piano in 3 weeks may be possible for a genius child, but it took me 10 years before I could play reasonably in front of people.
Am I going to write a bestselling novel anytime soon? Probably not. But maybe! I’ve given up trying to figure things out before I start. I have no idea where learning writing skills will take me, but I am going to enjoy the journey.
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