Why do you quit before you get started?

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.”
~Unknown

How often do you try completely new things?  When is the last time you abandoned all reason and took an ambitious leap into an activity you’d never tried before?  If you’re like me, it may have been a while.

I tend to talk myself out of trying  new things.  I dismiss them as something outside of my skill set.  I tell myself I don’t have the talent before I’ve ever even attempted it.  I’m afraid of failure.

I make excuses for never giving the effort.  I am self defeated.  I have put limits on myself that only exist in my own mind.

“I can’t do that, I’m not good at math- I’m not artistic- I don’t have the patience.”

I’d bet you do this too.

We both need to stop it.

The cliched truth is that neither of us will know if we’re good at something until we try it.  More than that, we won’t know if we enjoy it.  Small children LOVE to finger paint, but, be honest, mostly they just make a mess.  Finger paints don’t have much artistic value, but that doesn’t stop kids from loving it.  And the truth is, no matter how much we wish it wasn’t the case, most talents take time to develop.  Maybe Michelangelo started off by finger painting and after a life time pursuing his love of art he developed epic talent.

Most of the time when you start a new activity, you’re going to suck.  Forget about being good at something and decide if you like it.

Just try new things and stop talking yourself out of it.  Ignore your preconceived limitations.  Who cares if you’re no good?  Plan to fail.

“I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.”

~ George Burns

(Photo by abbybatchelder)

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