Square One, We Meet Again 

I’m no gamer but as a kid I played enough Mario to know when I lost, I had to start over. But I did so knowing what took me down before. So even though I had to start at the beginning (again) I knew more and could get farther with each attempt. This was actually a great life lesson. (Thanks Mario!) 🍄

Willingness to try is the only way you will get anywhere. So many don’t try. They may be scared and unsure or create excuses to avoid the whole issue. Does this sound familiar? It should, we're all guilty of this. It can be challenging to try something new, or start over. But why not try?

It often feels like we are back at square one. But like Mario, if you did anything at all, you learned something. So you are re-starting with more knowledge and experience. Give yourself the credit you deserve for the attempt.

Think about all the things you have done successfully. Were they easy? Done on the first attempt? Did they take time? Hard work? We tend to forget the process once we hit the goal. I want you to really acknowledge the effort you made to achieve your accomplishments.

WHY do you consider them failures? Was the outcome something you could control? You may have actually achieved your goal but the final results were outside of your control.

What did you learn in the attempt? Can you see the value of your experience? Where have you applied that knowledge to your life since? Did you fail or just stop trying? Sometimes a perceived failure is simply a way of learning what is not for us. We realize the goal is no longer as important. You're allowed to change your mind. So was it a failure or just a learning experience?

Why do we consider failure bad? I have learned more from my failures than my successes. I’m not saying failure is good. I am saying it’s just part of the process. Failure gives us new knowledge and growth.

For example, you can train to run a race and work at beating your own time. You can’t control how fast other runners are. If you lose the race, I challenge you to review your individual accomplishments. The adage "comparison is the thief of joy" (attributed to Theodore Roosevelt) holds absolute truth. We can only truly control our actions and reactions. There is power in your response, wield that power intentionally.

Messaging from modern society is everything should be fast and easy and if it isn’t you’re doing it wrong. Now, look at that statement in black and white --does it still feel true? It shouldn't. Not everything is easy, and I don’t think it should be. And don't get me starting on how everything should be fast. 🙄 I don’t know about you but I am proudest of my most challenging accomplishments. The only real failure is not to try.

What if we consider the idea of failure as an observation on whether something worked or not? Take away the negative connotation. Remove its association with defeat or inadequacy and begin to view it as a step in the creative process. I think so many creatives are afraid to experiment as they see the individual experimentations as tied to their identity as an artist, so if they fail at an experiment, are they really an artist? (the answer is YES) Experimentation is a critical component of creative growth!

This can be as specific as the scientific method or as simplistic as play. Using the scientific method is actually very natural for creative minds. While the words may feel intimidating the process is instinctual. Like many scientists, creatives spend most of their time experimenting. But the rest of the process is also important as it creates a goal and then allows us to identify what we learned, and isn’t that what we’re talking about?

observation > I love landscape.

question > Could I paint one?

hypothesis > With the right tools, resources, & practice I could paint a landscape

experiment > Research, learn, paint & experiment

analysis > Review finished work

conclusion > Yes, I can paint a landscape 😊

This experimentation can also be seen as play. Play allows us to experiment without pressure. We can focus solely on the joy of the activity and we remain open to solutions and new possibilities. When the idea of failure is removed, the attention is completely on the action itself. Because play is not about reaching a specific goal it allows for that very thing. And even if no notable result occurs, we have still had the experience of play, which is valuable in itself. In essence these two approaches embody the creative process, more on that another time.

Trying again IS the next step. At first it may feel like you are at square one again, but I promise, you’re not. You've already made progress. You have a clearer vision of the goal and more understanding of what it will take to get there by applying your new insight.

Watching a small child learning to walk is honestly very inspirational. They get up and fall down, over and over and over. They keep trying until they succeed. Now they do have a couple advantages. First, they’re close to the ground so falling is not all that bad. Second, they know walking is possible, they see us doing it. So, they just keep going.

When we are exploring something new, we don’t always know it’s possible, but we can still approach it the same way --with persistence and courage. If we really believe in what we are working towards then the only way is forward. Think about all the things that we wouldn’t have today if their creators just quit.

Is it something you actually want or something you think you ‘should’ do? If it’s a ‘should’ I want you to reevaluate your motivations, get real and authentic. If it’s something you really want then the process should be as rewarding as the goal. Playing Mario I got frustrated when I found myself at the beginning again, but once I started again I was just into the game.

Sometimes we all need a little help or direction. We can get lost in the process and would benefit from another creative mind that can be more objective and help you along your journey. In my Coaching Program: Make Art, I can help you where ever you are. We will work together to give you clarity on where you want to go and develop a way through. You will still be doing the work but will have that advantage of knowing you can get there and have support along the way.