Taking the Leap and Losing My Fear of Being Wrong
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” -Joseph Chilton Pearce. This quote has been part of my creative mantra for years. I'm sure it's something that many of us artists can relate to. We get so caught up in trying to do things right, that we don't allow ourselves the opportunity to make mistakes, take risks, or even just to be wrong. It took me a long time to start learning this hard lesson, but I'm here to tell you that once you start taking those leaps and giving yourself permission to be wrong, the creative possibilities and opportunities open up in ways that you never imagined. Being wrong no longer holds you back, but helps you grow.
Fear that I Was Wrong
My fear of being wrong stemmed from when I was in school and struggling with learning, due to an unawareness that I had Dyslexia. Since it wasn’t looked into, I didn’t have the tools to navigate learning with it well. I was always so afraid of making mistakes or being wrong. This was such feat, that I would often triple-check every answer, before finally submitting my work. After I got married and Amy realized I had Dyslexia and it helped explain so much for me, when I dove into understanding it. Yet, when I started taking college classes, I realized that the fear still hadn’t gone away, due to my relationship with it still. When I received feedback from my professor, stating why my answer was incorrect, it felt like such an incredible blow. I knew deep down that getting things wrong is an inevitable part of the learning process, but the pain of hearing someone point out that I did something wrong was just too hard at that point in my life! I took it as a direct reflection of me, therefore if I did something wrong, I was wrong. The same issues were present in my art too—I was so afraid of being judged on my work, that I would never share anything with anyone other than close friends and family members (and even then, only sparingly). As a result, all of my ideas stayed locked away inside my head, instead of coming out into the world as art.
Growing from my Fears of Being Wrong
But I eventually realized how much potential growth and progress were being stifled by this fear and began actively working on letting go of it and growing. Little by little, I started putting myself out there more. I gradually accepted that sometimes things don't turn out quite how we expect them to, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing or reflect on who we are as a person! Over time, by allowing myself the freedom to make mistakes without judgement or self-condemnation, new creative projects began rolling in and opportunities presented themselves seemingly out of nowhere...all because I made a conscious decision to let go of some control over the outcome and simply enjoyed the process! The growth that was made, because I didn’t allow the fears of being wrong to hold me back, was shocking to me.
Letting go of the Fear of Being Wrong
By letting go of our fear of being wrong—by embracing failure as an essential part of success—we open ourselves up to new possibilities and experiences which can lead us down unique paths filled with unexpected joys along the way. We also give ourselves permission to think outside the box; by not limiting ourselves with preconceived notions about what is "right" or "wrong," we can explore uncharted territories full of potentials waiting just around the corner! And lastly, by releasing our grip on perfectionism we free ourselves from unnecessary pressure; instead, allowing our creativity to flow freely without boundaries or restrictions.
Losing your fear of being wrong is something that takes practice but can reap great rewards if you are willing to put in some effort and take these brave steps forward towards creative freedom! Allowing yourself room for self-growth as well as failure, opens up a world full endless possibility – so why not take advantage of that? Challenge yourself today by doing something small yet courageous; take a leap into unknown territory where no one else will judge you except yourself! You never know what amazing results could come from from letting go of the fears of being wrong, until you try!