This right here is an example of doing the thing. This is an article I am writing with no preparation, I’m not sure where it’s going, and the cartoony photo of the Bronco has no direct application to anything. I just like it. Allow me to explain more through a series of points:
The Motive
To convey the importance of action and encourage you, the reader, to avoid the pitfall of overthinking.
The Expected Result
To have you, the reader, understand that it’s good to fail. It’s good to produce something really crappy as long as you don’t give up then and there. Embrace mediocrity and then use it as fuel going forward.
The Complication
Should we then continue to produce crappy things forever? What if we never get better?
Here’s my attempt at an answer. The Complication is a classic example of overthinking! Stop it. AVOID IT SIR. I hope my next statement is caught by you, the reader.
You will never get better at something by thinking that you won’t get better at something.
Try it. If you’re anything like me you’ll be really bad at it the first time. I tried painting something this summer, and it’s actually hilarious how bad the result was. However, you can actually see me getting better as I continued to paint this thing. As much as I dislike how it looks, I did get better and I can do a better job on the next one. I hate how much of a clutch overthinking has on my life, and I want to encourage you, the reader, not to fall for it. We are all our own biggest critic, and in reality no one cares how bad your thing is. So paint that thing. Write that thing. Send that thing off a cliff and see if it flies. And allow it to suck. Sometimes it’s really funny, and I sincerely hope this is one of those times. Also, it helps you to grow and get better. So consider me a guy who has been able to grow in the past 15 minutes, as well as chuckle at my own lack of skill at writing. Haha.
Stay Frosty,
L. Atkins

