There’s a unique kind of joy in being bad at something you love or desperately want to excel at. It might sound counterintuitive, but think about it: every moment spent engaging in this activity is not just an investment in your skills, but a testament to your passion and dedication.
The Gift of the Journey
When you love doing something, you’re willing to spend countless hours immersed in it, regardless of your initial skill level. This time spent is a gift—not just to your future self who will be more skilled, but to your present self, who gets to experience the pure pleasure of participation. Each session, each attempt, even each failure, is a step forward on a rewarding journey.
As you improve, you not only develop your skills but also gain a tangible reward for your patience and dedication. Witnessing your own progress is incredibly satisfying and can be a powerful motivator.
The Rollercoaster of Learning
Embracing something you’re not yet good at means signing up for a rollercoaster of emotions. There will be moments of frustration and disappointment when things don’t go as planned. But then, there will be highs—the breakthroughs and the successes that remind you why you started in the first place.
This cycle of ups and downs is much like being in a committed relationship. It teaches you about resilience, passion, and the joy of sticking with something even when it gets tough. This is a valuable lesson that applies far beyond the specific skill you are learning.
Humans ARE Relationship
At our core, humans are relational beings—we thrive on connections, not just with other people but with our activities and environments. By engaging deeply with something, even something we’re initially bad at, we live out our fundamental nature: we are built to relate, to connect, and to grow within these relationships.
So, if you find yourself struggling with a new hobby or skill, remember that the struggle is part of the charm. Each step, each misstep, and each recovery is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what it means to be truly engaged with life.
You’re not just learning a skill. You’re learning how to love the process and how to apply these lessons across all areas of your life. Embrace the challenge, embrace the relationship, and transform your struggles into strengths.