If you make things and share them, your heart will at some point be broken. If you never share, it will harden. Your choice.
A reason that many people never step out into the unknown and try something risky is that they are afraid of rejection. There is a narrative playing in their mind that equates who they are with what they do, and the potential of having their self-image violated is simply too much to bear.
They would rather live with perceived invulnerability than take a chance and discover they have limits.
However, the brave souls who are willing to share what they see, make, and think, even if it is incomplete and imperfect, are the ones who move us all forward. The person who speaks up in a meeting, who makes art as a form of protest, or who shows up every single day to do the work (ignoring of the gravitational pull of mediocrity) pulls everyone else along with them, up the rugged mountain.
It is all too easy to pounce on those who are in the fray and criticize them for their audacity. We do this to politicians, to artists, and to business leaders who dare to stand out. If someone tries to climb a little bit, culture loves to pull them down. The subtle message we send is that it’s better not to try than to be seen as a fool.
I say it’s better to appear a fool than to abdicate your contribution and deeply regret your choices. It’s impossible for everything you make to be great, but one thing I do know is this: brilliance demands bravery. Without the courage to step up, stand out, and speak your mind, you will never empty out what is inside of you, and you will take your best work to the grave.
As my friend riCardo Crespo loves to say, “You can’t lie to the person in the mirror.” At the end of the day, you have to look yourself in the eye and ask “Was I brave today? Did I act in a way I’ll be proud of in five years?”
Be brave today, friends. Do something that matters to you.
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“Who they are = what they do” is a very difficult equation to negate. Sometimes requires breaking more than a heart! Great post, thanks for reminding me this morning …
This is true. I have a great interview with Jia Jiang coming up in a few weeks on rejection and fear.
Absolutely the most perfect thing for me to read today. Thank you, Todd!
Outstanding post. I’d like to add the following closely related belief that I have:
Love this, Scott.
I’m just finishing up a creative project that I feel I broke my heart on. I’m learning a new skill and I’m making lots of mistakes in the learning curve. Part of me wants to never share what I made until I’ve become an expert—but reading this gives me the courage to put it out there despite it’s imperfections.
Great to hear, Brooke. As my friend Don told me, the only way to discover your voice is to put it in the mix.
We have decided to take the plunge and as you say, “empty what is inside of us.” While our core business activities are still becoming clear, we know we feel a connection to our message and we have decided to at the very least, TRY to build something we truly believe in. This is not a promotion, but rather, a THANK YOU for posting something that is incredibly relevant to where we are as a new small company.
Love it! Thanks for sharing, and best wishes in your venture.
My heart has been hurting this week. Thank you for reminding me that it is well worth it.
Alyson, thank you for sharing. Certainly not easy, not comfortable, not always fun, but I do believe it’s worth it.
Alyson, thank you for sharing. Certainly not easy, not comfortable, not always fun, but I do believe it’s worth it.
Thanks Todd for sharing your gifts with us. I’ve been living with many swirly, uncertain thoughts and doubts about taking my business to the next level. I very much needed to hear this today. We call this God’s timing in my house.
Am reading Don Quixote and just saw Man of La Mancha last night. Kind of works with this.
Great post. I am just printing it and putting it on the wall of my home-office!
My little theory is that since we are living in a increasingly comfortable world, it is easier every day to stay in our self-image world a.k.a. comfort zone and never “share with the world”.
Great post Tedd, your writing has power to change us.
K.
Great article about being brave, taking that risk, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and stepping into your power. “If you make things and share them, your heart will at some point be broken. If you never share, it will harden. Your choice.” Thank you for this reminder Todd Henry. #accidentalcreative
I loved this post. I needed to read this too. The energy we burn in our anxiety over public opinion and critique cuts into our creative fuel.
Applause to all the brave creators that close their eyes and hit publish/ send. Great post!
Awesome Todd! You became one of my favorite bloggers recently! Keep rocking!
Awesome post. And quick question: does that heart image have a copyright? would love to use it for something
John, the image is from Shutterstock.
Very cool, thanks! It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for to use for part of my album art. Thanks again
Man is this hard. It fights against everything we have been taught.I have been making this choice and it has been scary.
The great thing though is just how interesting your life becomes when you do this. I am really curious when this becomes the default instead of a choice.
Nice. Thank you Todd. One of our Songpreneur community members shared a link to this on our group forum. Very well said.