|
,
As much as children, teenagers and even adults don't want to hear it, if we are to become proficient in any task or ability, we must battle through the initial phase of frustration as we learn the new skill and keep working at the task we wish to become an expert in.
In refusing to walk away and try something new, we must continually look for knowledge to improve our abilities, improve our approach and technique, and most importantly, be willing to practice endlessly.
It just so happens that it was this past week as I was in Portland for an AP conference that I finally realized some growth in truly feeling as though I had a firm grasp on exactly how to approach the content I was teaching after attending the conference for the fourth time. Many might think I would feel this way upon my second visit, but I must admit, being my toughest self-critic, it took some time.
Now did I feel like I had nothing else to learn? Hardly! As the maxim states, "The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know", and I must concur. But for me the feeling I described above was my ability to finally see growth from where I started five years ago.
In anything we do, it is who were yesterday and what we knew yesterday that we must compete with, not others as we can never know how far they've come, what they've overcome or what they already knew innately. When we realize that the only person worth competing with each and every day is the self we were yesterday, our ability to forge relationships becomes much easier and much unnecessary stress is alleviated.
So if you're in the middle of trying to finesse or become proficient in something you love to do but have yet to produce the results you know you are capable of, hang in there. As Malcolm Gladwell shares in his book Outliers: The Story of Success, it takes 10,000 attempts or opportunities doing something before we can become experts allowing the skill to become ingrained in our brain's memory which enables the skill to be performed nearly without thought.
And simply because you are passionate about something doesn't ensure it will come easy. In fact, it's better if it doesn't, so you'll know if you truly love whatever it may be as much as you say you do.
The good news is, finding your passion and turning it into what you do for a leaving follows a simple equation . . .
In this week's newsletter, as I mentioned last week exclusively to newsletter subscribers, TSLL styling services were officially introduced on the blog. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and I'm already getting started shopping the just released fall collections for readers who contacted me last week. While August has already filled up, if you are looking to update your fall capsule wardrobe or simply want one or two outfits, email me today to be placed on the waiting list (learn more about what the services entail and the cost here).
August signals the beginning of shopping for fall fashions, so Wednesday's Why Not . . . Reduce Shopping Regrets? shares tips on how to make purchases that eliminate buyer's remorse. And whether it comes to shopping or simply making it through your day, Monday's Inspirational post focused on how to conquer the complex task of living a simplified life. While it's not easy, it is worth it - have a look here.
As you might imagine, I'm getting excited for fall after the conference and the release of many designer fall collections this week. However, summer is not over, so continue to enjoy a few more days of leisure, savor the longer hours of daylight and lose track of time reading for pleasure without interruption.
Speaking of which, this upcoming weekend calls for catering a wine and food pairing event, enjoying the country and enjoying a schedule that is quite flexible. I hope you as well are able to indulge in some pleasurable pursuits.
Until next week, I'll see you on the blog.
-Shannon
|
