A case for doing what scares you most

This is a video of skateboarder Tony Hawk pulling off the ‘900’.  It is a skateboard trick consisting of a 2½-revolution (900 degrees) aerial spin. At the time, it was a feat that had been deemed impossible. But Tony did it anyway.

What is the difference between reaching your goals and not reaching your goals?

Usually, it’s just one small step. But that step tends to be the scariest, the one you’ve put off the longest and in putting it off, it has gained in power and size, and now it feels terrifying and insurmountable.

And yet you must face it down. Take a deep breath, gather your courage and push though it to the other side.  It may singe the tips of your hair, leave you wobbly for a little while, but you will emerge largely unscathed. We promise.

Once on the other side of your fear, you will look back at it and wonder how it ever managed to frighten you to begin with.

This may seem obvious, but it isn’t. Most of us endlessly complain about our less than perfect situations without realizing that in most cases, it is simply our own fear holding us back.

With regards to creativity, the main fear often seems to be “what if my work is bad?”

At Seymour, we don’t believe that there is such a thing as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ where art is concerned.

Creativity is simply creativity and all creativity is valuable.

Jump in. Swim out farther than is comfortable. The results will be worth it. When you overcome your fears and create something authentic, it is valuable not only for you, but for those around you.

Want proof? Look at the smile on Tony’s face. Hear the cheers of the crowd.

Everybody wins.

 

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the
shore.”  – André Gide