In today’s quote, Henry Miller claims everyone has a destiny. If it is true, that can be a scary proposition. If life isn’t going the way we hoped, if we are going through a tough time right now, we tend to believe that is our lot in life and to just accept it.
But should we? If our vision and values are misaligned with our current situation, should we just accept that’s the way things are?
It might not work. Some will like your style while others don’t. There are those who will get what you are conveying while others have no clue. Let’s face it. Matisse knew what he was talking about!
“Creativity takes courage.”
Henri Matisse
Whenever we do something new, we are going to welcome critics. Let’s face it, we don’t get what others are creatively doing either. We have our tastes and preferences. An artist could spend years working on a technique that appears effortless. And that appearance of effortlessness will make others dislike it.
Creativity is messy. It is also noisy. After all, one person’s musical symphony is another person’s rude noises!
Not every creative endeavor is meant to make money or be popular. Who can really predict what is popular next week anyway? If we make those our goals, we may be in for a disappointment.
The pursuit of perfection can kill creativity. If we are searching for the perfect pitch, technique, or approach that will knock everyone’s socks off, good luck! That pressure will squelch creativity.
Besides, my view of what is perfect can be very different from yours. How can perfection be defined in artistic endeavors? Is it the reaction of the public? Or the guarantee of an award-winning project? Perhaps it’s the approval of a client. What if they had a bad day and you didn’t know they hate that shade of purple?
If we are working with businesses, creativity takes courage. Very few business leaders have that chutzpah. Editors will turn down books that become bestsellers. Movie producers will reject movie concepts until they become popular and demands sequels. That song that a producer was convinced was a flop is suddenly his favorite when it becomes viral on TikTok.
Creativity takes courage. It isn’t easy to put our ideas out there. But it is worth it. It is far better to try something and see whether it works than to stay safe and churn out the same old concept.
Forbes has an article entitled What John Wayne Got Wrong About Apologizing. In it, John Baldoni uses a John Wayne quote to illustrate why it is okay to say, “Apologies accepted.”
“Never apologize, mister, it’s a sign of weakness.”
John Wayne as Captain Nathan Brittles in, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Never apologize… Really? Baldoni goes on to show why that philosophy is actually a bad idea. Refusing to apologize doesn’t make someone strong. In fact, it erodes trust, eliminates accountability, and corrodes culture. In other words, apologies aren’t a sign of weakness. They are a sign of someone with a healthy ego.
If we pretend we are never wrong, how can we make progress towards a goal? It is a recipe for disaster. Therefore, we must have the courage to admit when we are going in the wrong direction.
A long time ago, when paper maps were still the way to get around, I was lost in the middle of southern Indiana. Wherever we were didn’t appear to be where we wanted to go.
I acted like the stereotypical male and refused to admit I had no clue where we are. The more we drove, the more obvious we were wrong. I knew better. This kind of predicament that cartoons are made of. I was making myself the butt of a joke.
I could fool my kids. But I couldn’t fool my wife. At first, she patiently asked me to get directions. After about a half-hour of this, she had enough. It probably didn’t help that we drove by the same convenience store again. She strongly encouraged me to stop and ask how to get to our destination. After a two-minute conversation, we were off and going where we wanted.
Consequently, we would like to believe no one notices when we are going in the wrong direction. But we aren’t fooling anyone. So when we mess up (and we will), let’s have the courage to utter an apology. Then we may be surprised to hear the reply, “Apologies accepted!”
Courage takes a positive mindset. Whoever said, “This is going to go badly. It inspires me to do more!” No, that kind of thinking inspires no one.
We get inspired by the story of the person who marches on against all odds. Is it because they’re the smartest or most talented? No, it’s because that person can envision a better outcome than everyone else. The odds may not be in their favor, but they move ahead with courage and faith.
Mindset matters! If you are certain the project will go badly, what’s the point? If you know there will be obstacles, but believe they can be overcome and there will be a payout, you are much more likely to do what is required to make that project a success.
Are you negative about something that must be done? Change your mindset! Look for ways that could make the project successful. Find a way through the obstacles. Look at the obstacles as challenges that can be overcome. You may be surprised to find the answer was there all along but a pessimistic mindset blinded you… until now!
Today would have been Billy Graham’s 103rd birthday. There appear to be other people that have made this statement. Looks like my former governor wrote a book with this title. But I think Graham says it best.
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”
Billy Graham
I see courage as less of an emotion and more of a virtue. You can be afraid, yet courageous. The odds may be stacked against you, and your anxiety is high, yet you can still be courageous. First responders and soldiers show courage every day thanks to their commitment and training.
The average man or woman can show it as well. It may be less because of training, but more of a commitment to virtue or a cause. When we know what we stand for, we are willing to stand up for it. That commitment to courage can inspire others to do the same.
When courage is combined with commitment and kindness, the world is a much better place. Billy Graham showed that kind of courage. May we show commitment, kindness, and courage on his birthday.