Does Your Mindset On Failure Need To Change?

I live in a creative community. Sometimes the pressure to put out new and amazing work feels high. There are photographers, writers, painters, potters, jewelry makers, musicians, book sellers, craft beer specialists, florists, soap makers, knitters, and even an independent printing press. There are artist meetups, and mixers all over town. Events to showcase the work to everyone around town, and grants to assist new and upcoming artists.

I do what I can to stay connected to the network around me. I go to some events, I visit the shops, I chat with people when I see them at the local coffeehouse. It’s a necessary thing to maintain connections, even for an introvert. Then there are those crazy rose colored glasses that make everyone else’s work seem so much better than yours. Do you know what I mean?

My insecurities about my work have followed me well into my adulthood. As I am sure it has for many of you. First, there is the fear of failure. We all have it about something. In my case, it is my writing. I can admit that I’m a fairly good knitter, and I can cook, but my writing is where I doubt myself. What if I’m not good enough? What if I get laughed at? What if I never make it as a writer, and I just end up with a bunch of notebooks, and nothing to show for it?

I want to combat these insecurities. So I’m going to hit them head on.

What if I am not good enough. Well guess what, dear heart, you aren’t, and you are. There will always be someone who thinks you are not enough. You will never be good enough for them. Your work will always seem beneath them. Just make sure that person isn’t you. Because, if you are doing the best you can in the situation you are in, well then you are good enough. You are good enough for that moment. You are good enough for the work you have before. You are good enough…..fill in the blank. Again, if you are doing the best you can, you are enough.

What if I get laughed at. You will. Some people are not intelligent enough to know when something great is in front of them. But, if you are doing the work there will be someone who will think you are fabulous, so just ignore the rest! Seriously.

What if I never make it? You might not, and what is the worst that could happen with that? You think you will have wasted your life? All of the knowledge and experiences you had along the way, those were not a waste. You learned something. You fought to become something. You built something. That is worth so much more than I can describe to you.

You see, yes there are a lot of wonderfully talented people in this world, but you are one of them. You are needed to bring just a little bit more beauty to this world. You will fail, but there is something in failing that will help you become better. Use the failures to your advantage, and learn from them. Until one day you no longer fail. Don’t stay down. Get up, and use it to create something better. In your life. In your work. In your art. You can do it.

You are enough.

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