If there's one thing I've learned from joining Odyssey, it's that I love to create. There are few things more fulfilling than making something that you can share with the world. In my case, writing is the best way to do that. The hardest part is getting over that self-conscious voice that tells us we aren't good enough. We tell ourselves that other people don't want to hear what we have to say, see what we can draw, or listen to us sing because we're scared that we'll be judged for it. Putting yourself out there is uncomfortable, plain and simple. Once you get over that obstacle, though, the possibilities are endless.
When I started writing, it wasn't for a public audience. I bought a small journal that I would keep in my backpack to jot down anything that I felt was worth writing. At first, it seemed pretty stupid. My first entry reads, "I bought a new journal because I want to have something to write in." Dead serious. I had to start with the most mundane, uninteresting thought that came to mind, because I couldn't think of anything better to write. But something happened when I wrote that sentence -- it wasn't ground-breaking, it wasn't profound, it wasn't surreal, but damn, it was satisfying! I was proud of myself for making something.
We get so focused on results of the things we make that we forget that the process of creating can be enjoyable in itself. The best artists are not superheroes who were magically struck by a spark of inspiration and went on to produce a masterpiece; rather, they are people who found something they enjoyed doing, and simply did it. They did what they loved time and again, and eventually got really good at it! This is the main idea presented in Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers," in which he shares the stories of several successful individuals, and describes the "Ten Thousand Hour" theory. His stance is that those who are incredibly successful are this way because they have spent ten thousand hours doing whatever it is they do. This makes sense. We learn from our past experiences, and each time we perform an action we are a little bit better at it because we can reference our memory of said experience and improve upon our last performances. Being creative gets easier the more you do it.
So if you've never picked up a pen, brush, or instrument and sat down to make something creative, you should try it today. You'll quickly find that even if you aren't necessarily good at whatever it is you choose to do, the process is enjoyable in itself. Don't do it for others, don't worry about what someone else might think if they stumble upon the end result. Just relax and create. This New York Times article outlines a few of the many benefits of such hobbies. They help us to feel better, boost our confidence and come up with more unique, creative solutions in our personal and professional lives. Put that incessant self-critic on the back burner for 20 minutes, and give yourself a chance to start being creative today. I promise you won't regret it.
