Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
As I saw 60 and 70-degree temperatures in the forecast, I knew it was time to switch the seasonal decor in my house even though it wasn’t even the end of February yet. I couldn’t stand to keep looking at the evergreen, pine cone, and red accent decorations as I was strolling outside on a Midwest day with no jacket on.
Changing out my seasonal decor stresses me out every single time. As I laid out all my greenery and organized it on my living room floor, I started to arrange the various vases spread throughout my house. I would put an assortment of greenery and flowers in and then take it right back out because I didn’t like it. This process happened several times.
I was getting so frustrated with myself. And then I thought…. This is silly. I’m getting stressed out about something that should be a fun, creative activity just because I haven’t gotten the arrangements right on the first try.
After several attempts, I finally got most of the vases to look beautiful. And I outsourced the fireplace mantle and one other vase that I just couldn’t get right to my mom. She brought some of her own greenery and decor, and everything turned out fabulous. I was so happy with the result when we were all done.
This got me thinking…
Why are we so hard on ourselves when we don’t get things right on the first try? Furthermore, many times when we don’t get things right on the first try, we are doing it all on our own.
Try, try again
Getting everything right on the first try is generally an unreasonable expectation. We don’t expect others to always get everything right on the first try, otherwise what would be the point of training and practice?
So why are we so hard on ourselves when we don’t get things right on the first try?
This is an unreasonable expectation when arranging a vase, but it is even more unreasonable when starting your own business, picking up a new habit, or taking on a stretch assignment. We learn through practice and embracing the messy, which implies more than one try.
So give yourself grace on your next venture. When you find that you’re beating yourself up for not being perfect on the first try, ask yourself whether you would expect that of a friend starting their own journey. My guess would be that the answer would be no. Talk to yourself as you would talk to your friend and find the joy in the learning journey.
Ask for help
When we’re learning, we can’t expect to have all of the answers… or even most of the answers. It’s often advantageous to seek help or advice from others who have been there before or to outsource certain tasks altogether to someone with expertise.
Actually, most times when I’m redecorating or changing my seasonal decor, I have my mom and her best friend come to help do the arranging while I do the grunt work of packing away old stuff, dragging up supplies they can use, and organizing the options. I know that words and organization are my strong points, not visual creativity. I love the result of my decorating but don’t love the process so I find a way to bring in others to make it fun, more efficient, and more effective.
If we can do that for house decorating, imagine the possibilities in your business! You have your own expertise, and you can’t be expected to do everything all the time. Things like administrative work, accounting, and brand messaging are great areas to outsource because they are so essential to the business but may not be something you enjoy.
Creativity is an art, not a science
Creativity is art. Art and creativity don’t have to just be painting, poetry, or pottery. Creativity is also decorating your house, cooking up that unique meal, or sending that perfect email.
Creativity is not mechanical. And just like arranging a massive bin of greenery and florals in a few vases, the possibilities and combinations are basically endless. So with endless possibilities in any sort of creative task or endeavor we take on, why are we being so hard on ourselves if we need to trial and error a bit to get it right?
Actually, scratch that…. Not “right” but rather to be an end result that we love.
Because that’s the thing… there is no one right answer for creativity. Oftentimes as creators, we are hard on ourselves through the creation process because the views on the outcomes can be so subjective. This is again where the room for grace to practice, edit, and revise comes into play.
If you are looking for a strategic partner in your business to take the communication of your brand story off your plate, I’ve got you covered. Book a free strategy session with me using the link below.
Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.