It just takes practice
You ever had a conversation that felt divinely inspired?
You know, you’re taking to someone and suddenly they say something that feels like the exact thing you needed to hear?
I was on the phone with a friend yesterday. We were talking about some bussinessy stuff but one thing lead to another and soon we were on the topic of what it means to be an artist.
I shared on Instagram this week that it’s one thing to make a thing and it’s another to put that thing into the world. The former is easy enough. I can make a thing, no problem. That second part of the equation is so. much. harder for me.
Putting something out into the world can be scary for a lot of reasons. Some fear judgement, some need the thing to be perfect (perfect isn’t a thing). Me? I don’t like attention. Okay, I’m a bit of perfectionist, too. With a pretty gnarly inner critic.
As we were chatting, my friend said a lot of things I needed to hear but one particularly stood out. When it comes to putting yourself out there, It just takes practice, she said. Of course she’s right. That’s all anything ever takes.
“When we practice something, we are involved in the deliberate repetition of a process with the intention of reaching a specific goal. The words deliberate and intention are key here because they define the difference between actively practicing something and passively learning it.”
—Thomas Sterner, The Practicing Mind
Want to be in a band? Practice playing. Want to start a cooking class? Practice teaching. Want to write a book? Practice publishing.
Jump + pray + practice —
Joce
» ICYMI: Opening night @ Ojai Valley Museum
Friday was opening night of the Ojai Studio Artist’s show ‘Perception + Persistence’. It was packed and I had a blast (that’s my piece below!) and then spent the entire next day in bed (introverts, holler). If you’re in Ojai, pop over. Good stuff! Show is up through Oct 10.
» Listen to ‘Ocean’ by Young Jesus
Young Jesus is one of the bands I’ve been really excited about lately. I saw them prepandemic open for Appleseed Cast and they blew me away. I cried. So moved. They have a new record coming next month and this is a track from that. It’s SO GOOD 😭
» ISO creative community?
Creative Guts is my discord community. It’s full of vibrant and supportive makers doing really cool shit - like this! It’s safe place to share what you’re working on, get feedback if you want, make friends. We’d love to have you.
Loving this format!