Creating is incredibly difficult. Actually, creating is unbelievably easy, but we have these voices inside our heads that tell us what we’ve made is shit and not good enough for anyone else to digest. It’s using your own damn voice that’s terrifying! Speaking up, saying who you are, and bringing new things into existence is vulnerable. Not only have you birthed something new, but you’ve also endorsed it. By sharing it with your byline, you’re taking responsibility for your work’s impact, whether good or bad.
Horrendous! What if someone doesn’t like what you create? What if they say something and crush that joyful, creative part of you that you love? What if they pick it apart and highlight all your work’s scratches, bumps, and bruises?
I say SO WHAT? So what if my eyeshadow’s asymmetrical? So what if my words aren’t at least a 9.5/10 on the interesting meter? So what if past me’s voice echos from down the hall and all I hear are mistakes? I did it. I created something with my own hands.
Brass tacks, it can always be better, but better does not exist in public. Better exists in our imagination right up until the point we’ve released v2—new and improved. I’m challenging perfect. I’m staring straight down the barrel of “not good enough” screaming “yes it is.”
In My Nightmares