About a year ago I launched a 40 Days of Dating Your Passion Project challenge. It was a way to inspire others (myself included) to sit their butts down and focus on the creative pursuits that matter the most to them. Like many, I struggle with giving love to my projects. Instead, I treat them like ugly stepchildren.
The funny thing is that there’s nothing major stopping me from working on my stuff. In many ways I’m in an ideal situation to devote quite a bit of time to what I love to do. I’m single, I don’t have any kids or aging parents to take care of. I don’t even have any pets. And most important, I don’t have a career that requires putting in 80-hour weeks. In fact, a lot of my life choices are geared toward carving out time to work on my personal projects.
But I still struggle day to day. What’s up with that?
Here are a few reasons why you might do the same, and what you can do to give your creative projects some love instead:
You aren’t good enough.
In fact, you think you suck. My writing mentor of seven years, the late Les Plesko, told me that when working, you need to leave your emotions at the door. This means not constantly judging your own work. You certainly aren’t getting better by not doing anything, so you’re better off trying than not.
You don’t have enough time.
You say you don’t have enough time, but somehow you magically had enough time going on a Netflix binge, or picking your nose and eating some donuts. The thing is you need to make time. Don’t have enough energy? Now that’s a different story. Instead, start small. I mean, super small. Pick up that pen and sketch every day for five minutes. Hell, do it for just one minute a day. Just make sure to do it every day, and ideally at the same time each day.
I’m working on a collection of short stories, and I try to write for at least 15 minutes every morning. I do this right after I get up and meditate.
Other things are more important.
Not just other things, but everything and everyone. Deadlines, people asking things of you, that little cobwebby corner of your apartment that could use a little dusting, are all clamoring for your attention. The thing is that everything else will always seem more important unless you deem otherwise.
Nobody cares.
Fact: Nobody cares about your work unless you do. If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy what you do, and you come off that way, other people won’t either. If you support your goals, other people will see the value you give them the same respect. So stop moping about. Instead, think of ways you can support your goals. It can be simple, like finding a partner to help you stay accountable or journaling. If time permits, you could look into taking a class or workshop.
You aren’t creating any value in the world.
Sure, working on that novel or comic book or writing that song matters to you, but is it adding value to anyone else’s life. Think of some of your favorite heroes. Your favorite writers, actors, artists, whatever. And they’re crazy successful, right? Well, they had to start somewhere. They were the ones waking up at the crack of dawn or burning the midnight oil, toiling away at their work. They probably had their moments of doubt, even after they had “made it.” You could potentially be that person one day.
What if you never make a dime from your work or gain zero accolades. Would you still do it? If the answer is “yes,” keep going. What’s really important to you? Is it garnering a bit of fame or making money (nothing wrong with wanting either, by the way), or do you truly enjoy what you are doing? Are you dedicated to mastering your craft?
Instead: Know that you are creating value in the world by doing something you enjoy. If you think about other things, like exercise, it doesn’t exactly create value in the world, but it keeps you fit and happy, and that’s certainly something. When you pay yourself first, you give a little love to doing what you enjoy and is important to you, that’s valuable.
So create a space to find the time and energy to work on what really matters to you. And like that Soft Pack song, you have to answer to yourself. Here’s a big high-five from your future self.
