The latest bit of inspiration I have heard–concerning my learning curve–is an “oldie, but goodie”. How do you eat an elephant? One bit ate a time.
I have not–nor do I plan on eating an elephant–but I the message resonates deeply with me…as does your wonderful cartoon scientificness of a blog (go ego…go ego…go ego…)
So, I am currently learning several new skills. My best practices lately, have been focusing on my why?; as well as “doing” that new skill daily–however, I don’t try and master it. I just take it one step at a time…well in the case of my analogy, one bite at a time.
I am learning whether I grow an inch or a foot–I still grow.
I really enjoyed this blog! It reminds me of what I am needing to do–write blogs on my website, instead on facebook. But, I get so many more comments on facebook 🙁
I plateau at the same places–especially self-doubt when its difficult or the feedback isn’t great. I get stuck at, if it’s not going to be great, why do it? My practice (today at least) is to get clear on the “why.” How does this project fit into the overall picture of what I want to contribute? That helps me keep going and keep learning (some of the time) even when it’s difficult.
Thanks for sharing your practice! Nate Scott (comment’s below) also reminded me of the “why we do what we do” when we get stuck… It’s an essential question with a visceral answer and I haven’t succeeded to name it yet! But for sure, I keep drawing and writing despite my numerous self-doubt crisis!
Oh the twisted paths our egos take us on. Thankfully your graph indicates we can always move forward if we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, have a bit of chuckle at ourselves and embody the learning each curve offers us. I love that you are offering such wisdom through your craft. And my learning is a joy since I get to laugh and share this with my friends and colleagues. Thanks Carole
Yes, i truly believe that we always move forward when we stick to the dusty, uncomfortable, sometimes shortly rewarding path, of our learning curves! Thanks for adding your thoughtful comment!
Thanks Carole: my learning is fraught with stress. When I step outside my comfort zone, the little girl (I call her Princess) hounds me with caution born of fear. I should write better. My grammar is substandard. Am I revealing something about me that will embarrass or shame my family. Do I have the right to get clarity for myself at the expense of others? Princess wants me to stay safe because no one is coming to save me if I fall on my face. All my excuses do not stop me because folk like you have the sills and vulnerability to expose the process of creativity. Writing is not easy. The high of completing a published project is fleeting. I must write because I have to. My soul yearns to engage in a creative process. For this reason, I have to tolerate the high and low feelings and think objectively about the outcome. I am at my best when I follow my heart.
Dear Bobbi, I think you just summarized very well the difficulty to express creativity and to keep a learning mindset. I also have a little girl inside of me who is telling us “don’t do that, you’re not good enough, who do you think you are”. She showed up yesterday. Over the last 40 years (yes, 40) my job has been to lower this voice and take risks. Small, insignificant risks. What helped me a lot these last years, is my “urge” to express my creativity and the realization that, even when I was falling into the deeper “ego-gag” and thought I was the biggest failure the earth had never carried on… the urge to create was coming back. I encourage you with my whole heart to write, fail, keep writing, find your voice. And you have one!
Carole,
Brilliant!
Thanks! It’s coming from a blog master…
Your curves totally rock!!! : )
The latest bit of inspiration I have heard–concerning my learning curve–is an “oldie, but goodie”. How do you eat an elephant? One bit ate a time.
I have not–nor do I plan on eating an elephant–but I the message resonates deeply with me…as does your wonderful cartoon scientificness of a blog (go ego…go ego…go ego…)
So, I am currently learning several new skills. My best practices lately, have been focusing on my why?; as well as “doing” that new skill daily–however, I don’t try and master it. I just take it one step at a time…well in the case of my analogy, one bite at a time.
I am learning whether I grow an inch or a foot–I still grow.
I really enjoyed this blog! It reminds me of what I am needing to do–write blogs on my website, instead on facebook. But, I get so many more comments on facebook 🙁
It’s hard to not be derailed from our focus by the number of comments! (whether it’s on blog or Facebook). But is it the right thermometer?
I plateau at the same places–especially self-doubt when its difficult or the feedback isn’t great. I get stuck at, if it’s not going to be great, why do it? My practice (today at least) is to get clear on the “why.” How does this project fit into the overall picture of what I want to contribute? That helps me keep going and keep learning (some of the time) even when it’s difficult.
Thanks for sharing your practice! Nate Scott (comment’s below) also reminded me of the “why we do what we do” when we get stuck… It’s an essential question with a visceral answer and I haven’t succeeded to name it yet! But for sure, I keep drawing and writing despite my numerous self-doubt crisis!
Oh the twisted paths our egos take us on. Thankfully your graph indicates we can always move forward if we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, have a bit of chuckle at ourselves and embody the learning each curve offers us. I love that you are offering such wisdom through your craft. And my learning is a joy since I get to laugh and share this with my friends and colleagues. Thanks Carole
Yes, i truly believe that we always move forward when we stick to the dusty, uncomfortable, sometimes shortly rewarding path, of our learning curves! Thanks for adding your thoughtful comment!
and this time, you already have 9 comments, that’s 3 times as many as last time!!!
… so I’m going to enter soon into the performance phase, wanting to do as good for my next blog!
Perfect.
Well done. Very colorful and meaningful. Great creativity. Love this.
Cartoon is printed and hanging on my wall!
You’re a wise man!
Thanks Carole: my learning is fraught with stress. When I step outside my comfort zone, the little girl (I call her Princess) hounds me with caution born of fear. I should write better. My grammar is substandard. Am I revealing something about me that will embarrass or shame my family. Do I have the right to get clarity for myself at the expense of others? Princess wants me to stay safe because no one is coming to save me if I fall on my face. All my excuses do not stop me because folk like you have the sills and vulnerability to expose the process of creativity. Writing is not easy. The high of completing a published project is fleeting. I must write because I have to. My soul yearns to engage in a creative process. For this reason, I have to tolerate the high and low feelings and think objectively about the outcome. I am at my best when I follow my heart.
Dear Bobbi, I think you just summarized very well the difficulty to express creativity and to keep a learning mindset. I also have a little girl inside of me who is telling us “don’t do that, you’re not good enough, who do you think you are”. She showed up yesterday. Over the last 40 years (yes, 40) my job has been to lower this voice and take risks. Small, insignificant risks. What helped me a lot these last years, is my “urge” to express my creativity and the realization that, even when I was falling into the deeper “ego-gag” and thought I was the biggest failure the earth had never carried on… the urge to create was coming back. I encourage you with my whole heart to write, fail, keep writing, find your voice. And you have one!