Title: Embracing Mistakes: The Key to Growth and Creativity
Written on
Chapter 1: Confronting the Inner Critic
Recently, I took a trip down memory lane by reviewing my earlier YouTube poetry videos. Honestly, it was quite a challenging experience. I couldn't help but feel that they required significant enhancement. This led me to question my decision to record such subpar voice-overs and share them online. My thoughts quickly spiraled into self-doubt: "Am I truly good enough? There’s nothing remarkable about my work; I should just quit writing altogether." My inner critic was relentless, dragging me into the depths of uncertainty.
However, having faced this emotional sabotage before, I recognized the need to halt these damaging thoughts before they consumed me entirely. A deep breath proved to be my anchor in moments like these, preventing the overwhelming chaos of stress from taking over.
Photo by Yannick Pulver on Unsplash
Focusing on my breath helped quiet the torrent of negativity. As I continued to breathe deeply, the swirling thoughts began to settle, allowing me to recognize the positive aspects of my poetry videos. While the narration was far from extraordinary, I couldn't overlook the dedication and patience I invested in creating them. More importantly, I must acknowledge the bravery it took to share my work—an achievement that should never be underestimated. Every journey starts somewhere, and that initial step is simultaneously the weakest and the most vital. Progress is achieved through practice and determination; without that first step, growth remains unattainable.
Thus, despite my dissatisfaction with my earlier narration, I commend myself for taking the leap, fully aware that it may not have been a masterpiece. Therefore, can it truly be categorized as a failure?
Showing up is essential, particularly during that initial moment when we are completely inexperienced. That, my friend, is commendable.
Photo by Michelle on Unsplash
I often experience a similar sense of reflection when I look back at my old blog posts. I embarked on my blogging journey in 2014, completely unaware of the craft. I experimented with stories, poems, articles, and personal essays, blissfully ignorant of what I was doing. At that time, blogging felt like an unsolved puzzle, and it was only through my writing endeavors that I began to piece together the mystery. My early work was riddled with grammatical and structural issues. Nevertheless, I wrote because of my passion, flowing freely without concern for quality. Some posts were poorly executed, while others were surprisingly decent. I lacked the ability to discern between the two. It was through engaging with fellow bloggers that I gradually honed my skills and gained confidence as a writer.
Today, when I revisit those past posts, I often cringe at their quality. Yet, I also appreciate the effort my earlier self invested in writing and sharing those pieces despite my inexperience and lack of confidence. It required significant courage. As my writing skills improved, I found myself producing less content due to increased awareness of my mistakes. This realization sometimes stifled my creative flow and became a breeding ground for self-doubt—a familiar battle.
However, when I read those cringe-worthy posts, I find comfort in knowing that those unintentional mistakes were pivotal in my growth as a writer. Although I still have a long way to go, with plenty of room for improvement, the crucial factor is to keep writing. Attempting and stumbling is infinitely more valuable than avoiding risks and never experiencing failure. I regard these mistakes as privileges, as they lay the groundwork for a brighter future.
Learning from errors is an inherent part of personal development, and the bravery to attempt and fail is a trait we all need. I aspire to cultivate the courage to embrace my mistakes, allowing me to take pride in every tomorrow that unfolds.
© Vinitha Dileep
Originally published at my blog Reflections on September 22, 2023.
Vinitha Dileep is a word enthusiast who found peace in writing and coding until life redirected her towards daily poetry creation.
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