"Doing What I Cannot Do"
Hello and welcome.
Since it's that time
of year and we're back into the classroom, let's let a master teach us a different way of approaching things, shall we?
" I am always doing what I cannot do yet
in order to learn how to do it."
(Van Gogh)
Quite the
reframe of how so many of us deal with a new situation, moment, ability, or teaching. When we're not rushing through it to "get it done" (and over with), we can often be found shying away from it altogether.
How many times have we all chosen, (yes it's
a choice), not to pursue let alone learn something new because: "we couldn't possibly"; "we won't be any good at it"; "they're (already) better at it than we are"; "we'll look silly, stupid, untalented"; "people will laugh at us"...need I go on?
And
yet. Here's is Van Gogh, willing to not know how to do something and take the steps needed to learn how to do it. Oh that we could learn like this more often and more easily.
Realize also that he gives himself breathing room around the process
with one word: yet. That allows for all the "missteps" and "mistakes" that are involved in becoming proficient in a new task, skill, behavior or talent. The more often we do something, the easier it becomes to do it. No surprise here.
How
comfortable are you with the practice of "Doing What I Cannot Do"? (2:12)