Time to Look Foolish in the Crowd

I have lots of quote books – LOTS! When I am in my studio, I enjoy combing through them to find words that inspire me to create. This one got me – right between the eyes. I was struggling with all my to do items, some of which I was procrastinating on as I was not sure how to proceed. I didn’t want to look foolish…then I read this quote:

Before the beginning of great brilliance, THERE MUST BE CHAOS. Before a brilliant person begins something great, they must look foolish in the crowd.

– The I Ching

I had to admit, I was feeling foolish. I felt ill equipped and unable to move beyond where I was to get to where I needed to be. It was all in my head, of course as we are all our own worst critics. When I read these words they helped me defunk-a-fy my thinking. I was reminded that maybe looking foolish was EXACTLY what I needed to progress! Wow, what a concept…actually seek out looking foolish to progress forward. HUH!

So I stepped off into the unknown and it wasn’t as bad as I had thought it would be…as usual. I made the problem/challenge bigger than it had to be. These words also reminded me that EVERYONE inflates their problems out of proportion. It is getting over that hurdle that is part of the process of moving an idea forward. Being willing to fail, look foolish, stumble and even get beat up IS part of the road to accomplishment. When we try to avoid it we make it even worse.

I feel better now. I have looked foolish AND I am better for it, so is my work. So today, join me. Come on in, the water is fine – let yourself be foolish. Give yourself the freedom to try and fail, be foolish. Maybe this is your time to look foolish in the crowd! Maybe that is just what you need to move things forward….it worked for me!