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Ever find yourself saying, “Why do I suck at everything?” I know I have. Especially when trying something new. But sometimes, you’ve got to just do it even if you suck at it.
99% of the time, you’re gonna suck at new things.
You might even suck at things you’ve been doing for a while.
Maybe you’ll never be a graceful dancer, no matter how much you practice, because you’ve got terrible coordination.
Here’s why you should do things you suck at anyway.
Just Do It Even if You Suck at Your Hobbies
First things first, it’s okay not to be good at your hobbies.
Hobbies aren’t a competitive market.
You don’t have to impress anyone with your ability to paint or sing or dance or knit or whathaveyou.
Contrary to what capitalism might lead us to believe, you don’t have to find a way to profit off of everything you do.
So, dive into that dance tutorial and laugh at how many times you fall over.
Sing along to that new jam, even if you can’t hit those high notes!
Paint the ugliest duckling anyone has ever seen.
Creativity is Not a Success/Fail Binary
The results of many creative hobbies are going to be subjective.
Hell, some people are drawn to art that looks a little wonky! It’s about the heart you put into it; actual technique doesn’t matter half as much as you might think it does.
Sure, there are some hobbies that might be a bit troublesome to suck at.
If you live with other people, they might not be as enthusiastic as you are about your belting “I Will Always Love You” and sounding like a dying horse in the middle of the night.
And, of course, some hobbies require some investment!
If you’re spending hundreds of dollars on fabric and sewing materials, but you can’t seem to make a decent pair of pants despite many attempts, that can be a problem!
Sometimes, it’s important to…
Know When to Quit!
Maybe you’ve been trying to get better at something for a long time, to no avail.
If you’re more frustrated than interested in continuing, give up!
It’s okay to give up!
You don’t have to prove anything to anyone by sticking with something that you’ve lost interest in.
If your hobby or interest isn’t bringing you joy anymore, then maybe it’s time to pat yourself on the back for trying, and move on.
But don’t let the fear of sucking keep you from trying at all!
Just Do It Even if You Suck at New Things in Your Career
Most of the time, you’re going to suck when you start new things.
Maybe you have an opportunity at work that could lead to an exciting new role, but you’ll have to expand your skillset first.
Don’t opt out just because you’re intimidated by the learning curve!
As with any other new thing in life, you’re gonna have to just do it even if you suck at first.
If your manager is worth a damn, they’ll expect you to need some time to adjust to your new responsibilities.
Find people who can mentor you in your new endeavor, and try to approach this learning opportunity with curiosity rather than taking on unnecessary stress about excelling right away.
Know Your Motivation
If you know your motivation for doing something, that can make it easier to push through the difficulty of sucking at it for a while.
Some reasons for doing things might be:
- out of necessity
- desire to learn / grow
- you’re passionate about it
- to receive praise / approval
Now, if you’re only doing something in hopes of being pat on the back for your efforts, then sucking at it is gonna be a real problem for you!
Remember, your worth is not derived from other people’s praise.
If it’s not a necessity, a passion, or coming from a general yearning to learn and grow throughout life, then maybe you shouldn’t be doing it.
But if it’s something you’re passionate about, or something that you need to do in order to live a full and healthy life, remember that motivation as you go into it.
Give Yourself Permission to Suck
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started something new, and, when I wasn’t immediately good at it, frustratedly berated myself.
“Why do I suck at everything?!”
First off, that’s what we call being a tad overdramatic.
As frustrating as it can be when we struggle to grasp a new concept or activity, let’s not jump to the conclusion that we suck at everything.
We can’t tie our self-esteem to our ability to achieve certain things.
You have value in simply being alive – you don’t have to prove your worth by excelling at everything you do.
Fuck Perfectionism!
You will never learn anything new in life if you’re worried about doing it perfectly.
Sure, it’s important to do your best, but let’s not beat ourselves up for falling short of perfection (a subjective and often impossible standard).
If you want to try new things, you’re gonna have to do away with perfectionism and take on the learning curve with eager curiosity.
The next time something strikes your interest, I hope you’ll just do it even if you suck at it.
Here’s to the many new and wonderful things I hope you get to experience in life. ❤️
Sincerely,
Battling perfectionism? Check out these affirmations to help you let that shit go!
If this post inspired you to try some new things, here’s a list of ideas to get you started!
What do you like to do that maybe you’re not very good at? Talk about it in the comments below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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