The #1 reason people don’t pursue their dreams is that they have not yet found the bravery within themselves to believe they can do it.
That’s why I haven’t named my recent challenge From 0 to 100 Pull-Ups. I didn’t have the bravery to believe it could be done. But I thought 10 Pull-Ups is something even I can attempt.
Because I have done many challenges in the past (successfully and not) it was easy for me to recalibrate my goal so that I would find my bravery again.
But can you teach someone to be brave in this respect? If I person hasn’t done enough creative activities yet, is it possible to change into a bravely creative person?
Not if you always preach to them. If you tell them how they should behave or create. I don’t think it works. Talking from the mountain only alienates people.
But I think I found what works. At least for me.
Show, don’t tell.
If I can document my creative experiments (even the way I’m doing it right now) and lead by example, some people around me would slowly start paying attention.
This is how Ausra started drawing Pinky and Spiky comic strips. At first she saw me do it for a couple of months, then she felt intrigued enough start doing it herself. Now she does it every day, just like me.
More recently Ausra’s nephew who is 18 asked me to teach him about entrepreneurship. He has now doubt seen my online activities for a long time. But only now he has found the bravery start experimenting with his growing passion for photography.
So you see, people need time to find bravery. Not everybody jumps into the dark pool at night head down right away. Most people do a little wading first to make sure it’s safe.
On the flip side of this we have to stay humble and not to look down on others. Yes, I’m doing some creative experiments right now. So what? Thousands of people are making even more life-changing things.
Therefore we have to be patient and careful not to judge people. Not to say, “this person will never be creative”.
Because you never know the amount of influence and inspiration you’re having on others.
People will be inspired not necessarily by what we do but by independence we have over our work.