I almost never comment, but this resonates so much, and the memes even more so.
It’s easy for me to say that giving yourself grace is about not just accepting things you view as mistakes or flaws - not that you necessarily plan to leave them all as they are (because being honest with yourself re: self-improvement is important) but just that you acknowledge them as they are - but also releasing yourself from guilt and shame about things that don’t really matter.
Guilt is a feeling about something you DID, so like if you hurt a friend. That’s something you gotta examine and try and move forward from better so you’re not mired in the past.
Shame is a feeling about what you ARE, like if you think you suck at something or deserve bad things to happen because whatever reason.
.
So many of us feel one/both about our art for whatever reason: for example, one might feel {guilty} for “wasting time” on it because {shamefully} we “aren’t as good” as we want to be.
This article is a good reminder to give ourselves that grace, to not feel guilty about practicing something we enjoy for fun, and to not be ashamed even if we do suck at it.¹ ²
¹words are important and how we speak to ourselves matters greatly; but this comment is already very long and even those who haven’t gotten to the point of having a more positive/at least less negative inner dialogue in their own voice deserve to give themselves that grace too, even if they really do think they suck.
²I couldn’t work it into my comment, but a quote I’ve always loved was
“Dude, sucking at something is the first step toward being sorta good at something" [Jake The Dog from Adventure Time]
I almost never comment, but this resonates so much, and the memes even more so.
It’s easy for me to say that giving yourself grace is about not just accepting things you view as mistakes or flaws - not that you necessarily plan to leave them all as they are (because being honest with yourself re: self-improvement is important) but just that you acknowledge them as they are - but also releasing yourself from guilt and shame about things that don’t really matter.
Guilt is a feeling about something you DID, so like if you hurt a friend. That’s something you gotta examine and try and move forward from better so you’re not mired in the past.
Shame is a feeling about what you ARE, like if you think you suck at something or deserve bad things to happen because whatever reason.
.
So many of us feel one/both about our art for whatever reason: for example, one might feel {guilty} for “wasting time” on it because {shamefully} we “aren’t as good” as we want to be.
This article is a good reminder to give ourselves that grace, to not feel guilty about practicing something we enjoy for fun, and to not be ashamed even if we do suck at it.¹ ²
¹words are important and how we speak to ourselves matters greatly; but this comment is already very long and even those who haven’t gotten to the point of having a more positive/at least less negative inner dialogue in their own voice deserve to give themselves that grace too, even if they really do think they suck.
²I couldn’t work it into my comment, but a quote I’ve always loved was
“Dude, sucking at something is the first step toward being sorta good at something" [Jake The Dog from Adventure Time]
and it feels very apropos here. ✨
Why is this so good? Feeling super inspired after reading this. Going to spend the long weekend refilling my creative well.
Ugh! I needed to read this today. Per your suggestion, I’m taking a damn walk! Thank you for this offering.