Everything is harder before it becomes easier
Have you ever felt discouraged when trying something new, only to give up after a few attempts? Do you feel like you don’t have what it takes to master a skill or talent? Well, everything is harder before it becomes easier.
Becoming good at something is not always easy, but it is always worth it. The journey of learning and mastering a new skill is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. However, the process of getting there is not always smooth sailing. In fact, it often involves a lot of struggle, frustration, and disappointment. But that’s okay. Sucking at something is just the first step towards getting better at it.
“Sucking at something is the first step to being kinda good at something”
The Truth
Many people believe that talent is something that you’re born with. But the truth is, a skill or talent is nothing but some neural pathways that get stronger with enough repetition. The more you practice, the better you become. It’s that simple.
But here’s the thing: you might suck for a while until you don’t suck so much at it anymore. And the best way to do this is just be happy you’re even trying in the first place. Then take another step like “hey you were better than last time” and repeat until you don’t suck at it.
This is a simple but important concept to keep in mind when you’re trying to learn something new. Don’t be discouraged by the initial difficulty. It’s natural to struggle at first, but with enough practice, the task will become easier and eventually feel like second nature.
Repetition is the path to mastery
One example of this is when I was bad at touch typing. But one day, I decided that no matter how many mistakes I make while trying to type without looking in a proper way, I would not stop typing without looking at the keyboard. For the first few weeks, it was hard, but then my hands automatically got the hang of it. I just acknowledged my mistakes while typing by using the right key with the right finger in my imagination while typing without looking, and it made me just better and better in typing. My WPM went from 15–25 to 55–65 in time, and I’m really proud of that. I know it’s not much, but it’s enough for me right now in the current situations I’m in. I didn’t expect that I would ever be able to type on my keyboard without even looking and at the average speed of 50–60 WPM considering my mediocre to shitty keyboard I have.
The truth is, everyone starts out sucking at something. But what separates the successful from the unsuccessful is the willingness to keep going, to keep trying, and to keep doing it until they get better.
The key to success is to keep trying, even when you don’t see immediate results. Sucking doesn’t matter. If you enjoy something or want to do it, you just gotta keep trying, and eventually, you’ll get better. You don’t need to be perfect at it usually.
Don’t stop doing something because you don’t have company. When you’re starting out, it can be tough to find others who share your interests. But that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your goals. You can always find online communities, YouTube tutorials, or even just practice alone until you’re good enough to join a group.
Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.
It’s never too late to start something new, to learn a new skill, to pursue a new interest. Don’t let your thoughts on whether or not you should start something
Everyone makes mistakes when learning a new skill or task. The key is to acknowledge those mistakes and keep practicing. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. As an example, if you’re bad at typing without looking at the keyboard, commit to typing without looking at the keyboard every day, and acknowledge your mistakes as you go. With time, your hands will get the hang of it, and you’ll see improvement.
If you enjoy something or want to do it, you just have to keep trying, and eventually, you’ll get better. You don’t need to be perfect at it usually. Remember that the journey is just as important as the destination.
Progress is not always linear, and it can be disheartening to feel like you have gone “backwards” because you’re having an off day. But don’t let this discourage you. Keep going, keep practicing, and eventually, you’ll see progress.
A skill or talent is nothing but some neural pathways that get stronger with enough repetition.
The brain is a remarkable organ that is capable of rewiring itself to accommodate new skills and habits. The more you practice, the stronger the neural pathways associated with that skill become. This means that with enough repetition, you can become an expert at anything.
No one is born an expert. Every successful person had to start somewhere, and they likely struggled at first. Don’t let the fear of failure or the frustration of being bad at something discourage you from continuing to try. The key is to keep at it until you start to see progress.
The best way to do this is to acknowledge your progress along the way. Celebrate the small wins and keep setting new goals for yourself. If you keep putting in the effort, you will eventually reach your goal.
Doing things you’ve never done before can literally trigger new gene activation. When we talk about growing as a person, it’s not always just a mindset shift. You can literally change your own genetic expression to some degree. So, don’t let your perceived inability hold you back from trying something new. You might surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.
Doing something repeatedly, even if it’s difficult at first, can also help you build confidence. As you start to see progress and improvement, you’ll feel more confident in your abilities and be more willing to take on new challenges. This can translate to other areas of your life as well, leading to a more positive and self-assured mindset overall
Lastly
Remember that doing something repeatedly doesn’t necessarily mean doing it the same way every time. As you improve, you may find new techniques or approaches that work better for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things, as this can help you continue to grow and develop your skills even further.
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”— Bruce Lee
