Breakthrough

I have been devoting considerable time and effort to a new creative project. A few days ago I realized that part of it was not working out as well as expected.

My first thought was that I could fix the problematic part if I devoted more time and energy to it. Soon, I realized that it would be better to scrap it and start over. 

I spent a few hours coming up with something new. It was better than the the first version, but still not up to my standards. I trashed version 2, as well. 

Last evening, I spent a few hours on version 3, and I am finally pleased with the results. I had my breakthrough.

The important thing to remember is that the breakthrough would not have been possible if I hadn't invested the time on those earlier versions. Strictly speaking, I wasted several hours on bad ideas, but in the end it wasn't a waste at all. My missteps directed me to where I needed to go. They clarified my vision, and they demonstrated gaps in my understanding that I would need to resolve before I could create the final product.

Don't fret over missteps, delays, or missed opportunities. The path to a goal rarely follows a straight line. We need to meander from idea to idea while we formulate a more complete vision, build critical skills, and forge the final expression of that vision into a  polished form.

Welcome ambiguity. Work through frustration. Understand each roadblock and learn from each experience what you'll need to know in order to advance to the next level. Be willing to give up on a bad idea - or five-hundred of them - but never give up on your dreams.

Copyright © 2013 Daniel R. South

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