It's always going to feel messy at the start.
As painful as they are, the messy parts have to be experienced before they can turn into something that's understandable and meaningful.
While this dynamic is present in so many domains of our lives, it's especially important to remember if you're trying to create or build anything — whether that's a piece of art, a project, a business, or a life.
Here are a few (famous) examples:
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J.R.R. Tolkien didn't even have the eponymous ring in his first drafts of Lord of The Rings — it took multiple revisions to land on this idea.
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Ed Catmull, president of Pixar, says that "Early on, all of our movies suck."
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Ernest Hemingway wrote the ending of A Farewell To Arms 39 different times before he was satisfied.
You can't skip the messy part, either. It's the process of engaging with the mess that actually allows us to turn it into something else. Through our attention, we can make something beautiful, interesting, and authentic.
The next time you are struggling with this, try treating yourself with compassion.
Say, "This is how everyone feels when they're facing the mess. We all struggle with this. It doesn't mean I'm not talented, capable, or resourceful. It just means I'm a human, going through the messy parts first."