Reflections

Be Willing to Do Something Badly!

• By Abel
• June 17, 2015
• No Comments

“Be willing to do something badly.” What an astounding way to approach something new – without fear or expectation that it will be pretty, perfect, or remotely acceptable. “Be willing to do something badly.” Denise Linn, a feng shui expert and a “space clearer”, gave this advice about the first time you do a space clearing (clearing the energy of a room, house, or even your body). But it can apply to anything you’re just starting to learn to do. She said that it’s your intention, what’s in your heart, that matters more than a perfectly performed technique.

And she is right. I think one reason things in my life have started to become more fun and to go more smoothly is because I’m willing to try new things, travel to different places, and meet new people because things don’t have to be perfect for me anymore. I am now more willing and even expect for things not to go as I had planned them. I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone of routine because I was becoming bored and unfulfilled. As I have grown in awareness I know that my purpose is to make connections, to make memories, and to touch people on an emotional level. Part of doing this is being vulnerable to others, exposing yourself as human and fallible.

If you worry about doing everything perfectly that’s exactly what happens, worry – thought about how it will come off before you do it, how it’s going as you’re doing it, and doubting yourself after muddling through it, whether it be uttering a sentence as you try to communicate in a foreign language or as you read your impromptu writing aloud in your creative writing class, second-guessing your ability to convey anything worth listening to or reading. And that’s only if a need for perfection doesn’t stop you before you begin!

Be willing to do something badly. Because in so doing you’ll throw your heart and soul into it and your spirit will carry you through and you will make an impact. Isn’t this what we are all looking to do?

Photo credit: Tantek Çelik