What's perfect when your learning?

 

    We have all heard the phrase “you’re your worst critic.” Being your personal critic usually has the unfortunate consequences of “starting a downward spiral.” Phrases of “I’m not good enough,” “It just didn’t work out, so why should I try,” “I failed because I’m not made for this,” “I’m not creative or artistic so it’s a waste of time to try.” Some unfortunate phrases and of course there are many more that can turn the tables for an unfortunate downward spiral. Sure enough, people who are close to you try their best to counter act the way of “the personal critic.” They do that by staying the common phases of “Its fine just relax and keep trying,” “you got this,” “I don’t see anything wrong with it.” The never-ending circling spiral and this spiral can happen in many forms.

            I have been pondering the question of “can you make the worst critic” into a superpower to challenge you. I do believe this is possible with a change of mind set and asking the questions “why?”  Is it a perfect answer “who knows” because “what’s perfect when you’re learning?”

Looking back and reviewing my previous work and seeing how everything has evolved over time I have been “creating things.” Yes, the primary material I work with is wood, but I have branched out some. You know, for the excitement, challenge and to “try.” Did the final project come out perfectly. That would depend on your definition of perfect, because “what is perfect?”

            When I first started carving wood, I was using hand tools. I loved it and still do. However, I found an unexpected challenge of “tool maintenance” and sharpening. It’s a real skill to learn how to sharpen them and to keep them sharp. Yes, I made a good effort and had some success. Nevertheless, it wasn’t perfect and took a lot of time. I have learned to applaud people who make projects completely by hand. My first few projects were primarily done with hand tools. It was quite the learning curve to have the project be “perfectly done by hand.” Needless to say, at this point I was only a few months into this adventure. I had another curve ball of figuring out “how to keep my project still?” Researching ideas, I found a possible solution and built my idea. It’s been sitting in the same spot, and I can say “it’s not been used.” I do not regret making it, because that was fun. However, the clamp kit that I bought had terrible to no instructions and the project wasn’t “perfectly functional.”  With research and honest effort, I hit a point I chose to shift gears some.

            Why did I choose to shift gears? My answer probably would be “because I can.” I shifted gears because, hand sanding a wood project which has deep gauge marks I concluded very quickly to be difficult to virtually impossible. I concluded it to be a very time-consuming work out. I invested into learning rotary tool and how to “power carve.” For more information about those steps can be found in other blogs and future blogs to come.

            Over the evolution of my creating adventure, I have had the questions come into my mind many times. The questions I call “The critic questions.”  I failed because “I don’t like it” “it doesn’t look right” “I messed up” “I broke it, or It just broke,” The process can be slow and having even more questions and doubts that come. To the point you can feel broken and start questioning and saying, “I need to give up,” “I don’t want to start over,” “I keep failing so why keep trying.” What could be the final nail in the coffee is saying “I just wasted all the money and time.” These statements or questions can bring fear, resentment towards yourself for “taking a chance.”

            However, when you give an honest effort of trying, being patient, and taking small steps things can become possible. The fear and struggles will turn into strength and courage. I have had multiple projects which I have “lost interest in a project,” for many reasons. However, I loved and encouraged the journey of continuing. I’ve had project that I needed to adapt in the moment because something happened.

            I was working on one project that I was almost done with making a refrigerator magnet. In the sanding process it slipped out of my hand and landed on the garage floor. Even with headphones and music playing I heard the gut-wrenching sound of it breaking. I even watched it split into two pieces. I roared like a lion, apparently loud enough, my sister-in-law heard it inside the house and came to check on me. It was quite the process of trying different things to figure out a solution. I was able to figure out how to fix it, which was difficult because it was in the center areas of sorts. I went one step further while the glue was drying. I started over, not because I wasn’t sure about my fix. I started over because I wanted to adapt the design to have more strength in the area which it broke “just in case.” Especially considering the refrigerator is open and closed a lot. People might would ask “why try and fix it?” I would answer the questions “why not?”  It is a chance to process and improve your problem-solving skills. It’s a chance to learn how to adapt and improve. Is everything fixable “depends.” I do believe it can help your vision for a project to adjust as needed. 

            Over time I have learned there is another part and/or another way to ask these questions to help challenge, enlighten, and improve the time you invest. I know that it has helped me find away to turn and use these in a positive way. Yes, I am leaving you on a cliff hanger because the blog was getting long and I like to keep the length reasonable. Don’t worry, more blogs will come to address the questions for a positive outlook. I also must share how and why “I don’t hide my mistakes, I incorporate them into my work.” Because when you’re learning, creating, and exploring your imagination. Creating or trying an idea from your imagination being perfect is relative when you’re learning and really does “depend on your project.”