As I've started writing a lot more in recent times, it's got me thinking about doing new things. Specifically about the resistance we feel when we start something new.
Or try on something new.
I.e. a hat.
HAT ANALOGY INCOMING.
Let’s say you go out and buy a new hat. A fedora, maybe. And at first it feels very strange wearing it. You've thought about it a lot, but now that you've got it on you're having second thoughts. 'Oh god what am I doing, I’m not a fedora person'. You're also fairly certain people are staring.
But after a while it starts to feel normal. 'I am the kind of person that wears a fedora', you think to yourself. In fact, you can't really imagine not being a fedora person. At this point it's difficult to recall that at one stage, way back at the start, we felt pretty ridiculous and awkward wearing it when we first tried it on. And here we are now. Living our best life puffing our cigars and clinking glasses with all the other fedora wearers down at the jazz club.
It's so important to remember that feeling because of how much it can be a beautiful and surprising thing if you can just push past that discomfort. It reminds me of what it felt like when I first started illustrating a few years back. It was clumsy and uncomfortable and then at some point it was normal. You're basically trying on a new identity and that's a fragile thing. And that's when self-kindness and bravery is required. A kind of who-gives-a-fuck-this-is-me-im-wearing-a-fedora-get-over-it-oh-and-ps-im-proud-of-myself attitude.
It's equally fine to find out that you're not a fedora wearer too. And at that point you give yourself a pat on the back and move on. Perhaps you might browse some hats again next week?
One issue can be when we attach our entire identity to our hat. Which is fine when it's humming along nicely, but bad when it isn't.
Adam Grant talks about this in his book Think Again, in regards to careers. That we should regularly ask ourselves - is this job/career/path still right for me? That we should have more of a loose grip on our professions as our whole identity, rather than with white knuckle clenched fists. Or clenched heads in this case.
I went through burnout a few years back and part of my problem was this. I had committed to the hat, and refused to take it off or question it despite finding out the hat was now made of bees and the bees kept stinging my face over and over.
Thankfully my face is no longer red and swollen. I've managed to avoid buying any other damaging hats since then, like ones made of knives or uranium or things like that.
I'm much better at trying new hats these days, but ignoring that rude voice in my head will always be difficult. And so I hope I'm always brave enough to keep going despite that, and better at pulling the plug if the bees have moved back in.
END OF HAT ANALOGY
I like the style of your simple and lovely illustration which is similar the profile picture i use and the love-yourself attitude. I think the operation to achieve the attitude in reality is focus completely on specific thing