Practice Your Passion! A Sketchbook Progression
When beginning something new, no one is magically perfect at it. For example, at first, you might feel unable to draw a straight line, touch your toes without bending your knees, or kick a soccer ball without falling flat on your face. Even after years of a hobby, a person’s performance is constantly changing, and that can be disconcerting—especially if you are your toughest critic. When you say to yourself, “I’m never going to be able to hit an out-of-the-park baseball!” or simply, “My art is horrible!”, then immediately you set yourself up for failure. No matter if the hobby is your favorite thing in the world, being unable to move past self-disappointment can make your passion deflate like a balloon.
BUT. No matter the sport, hobby, or even exercise, every hour of practice puts you one step in the right direction. Every minute doodling, every day shooting hoops, every second you do the hobby you love helps you get better. Practice may not make perfect immediately, but repeatedly taking the time to work at what you love has serious effects on your skill. Let that sink in. You ARE making progress, not failing. Take a minute to assess how far you have actually come from the day you started your activity, and pay attention to areas where you want to improve. Instead of kicking yourself about not being up to par, use your self-analysis to realize what you CAN do to progress. Being passionate about a subject is a special thing, and everyone has a talent that they can broaden in what they love. But to really get better, don’t tear yourself down; look at your passion from a new, proactive light instead. You have a unique gift and connection with your hobby; go enjoy yourself! Don’t block yourself from having a good time and just being you.
Video Music credit: “Ether” by David Larson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tQDXeTuoe0&list=PLSaTbSaUqIzt9H2jTf3PzGtB0bSA3Hj9E)
