PLAYING IT SAFE
Me, trying not to play it safe.
“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm is terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reasons for remaining ashore.”
~Vincent Van Gogh
Are you playing it safe just to avoid failure?
I get it. Failure is not fun. However, failure is crucial to success. But, playing it safe doesn’t sound very creative or fun. I think it is more about the fear of failure than it is about failure itself.
Think about it. As you learn how to paint a landscape, you fail in your attempts to paint a landscape, until you figure out what works. You paint a lot of terrible landscapes until you figure out how to paint a good one. Failing is a natural part of the process in order to achieve success.
You won’t get anywhere if you don’t take risks, try stuff, experiment and learn. And you won’t get anywhere if you play it safe. Failure is a part of learning, and both are essential. (One of my readers prefers to use the word “lessons” rather that “failure.” )
The trick is to not fear failure. Embrace it. Dance with it. Expect it. All the while aiming for success.
Of course you are going to be afraid at times. When fear shows up, create anyway. Do what you need to do. Care enough about your work to fail. Failure is a temporary condition. You will prevail.
Best,
David
