Start Afraid

Start Afraid

I’ve been thinking again about inspiration and creativity—about what leads an artist forward, what helps us grow, and what quietly gets in the way.
One of the greatest obstacles to creativity is the fear of failing.
We are afraid to begin because we’re afraid of wasted effort. Afraid of making a mistake. Afraid that what we create won’t be good enough, meaningful enough, or “worthwhile” enough.
So we hesitate.
But perhaps we have it backwards.
Failure can be a great teacher, if we are willing to listen. Mistakes can become openings—unexpected turns that lead us somewhere we never would have found by following the safe and familiar path.
Sometimes the most interesting work begins with something going wrong.
A brushstroke we didn’t intend.
A note that sounds strange.
A movement that takes us somewhere unexpected.
A story that refuses to go where we planned.
And suddenly, there is something new.
Something alive.
Perhaps creativity asks us to become comfortable with the unknown—to take the leap even when we don’t know exactly where we will land. To choose the path that might feel uncertain or uncomfortable.
Because courage opens doors.
Every new journey begins imperfectly. Every step forward carries the possibility of a stumble. But if we never risk the fall, we may never discover what lies beyond the edge of what we already know.
Think of all the art, music, dance, poetry, and invention that might never have existed if the artist had stopped at fear.
Picasso wrote, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Maybe part of growing as an artist is learning to call that courageous child back to us—the one who creates simply because creating is joyful. The one who isn’t worried about getting it right. The one who is willing to experiment, make a mess, try again, and wonder what might happen next.
We don’t have to wait until we feel fearless.
We can begin afraid.
We can fail a little.
We can learn.
We can rise again.

Every new thing begins imperfect.
Every step forward risks a fall.
Failure teaches.
Fear stops.
There are always two paths before us:
Try—or turn away.
Choose the trying.
Choose the trembling.
Choose the leap.
Jump in.
Begin again.
Grow.
Start afraid.
Fail a little.
Rise again.

Video, words, and photos in video by Denise Silva

As requested here are my words in the video above:
Start afraid,
fail a little,
rise again.
Every new beginning comes imperfect,
every step forward risks a fall.
Failure teaches … fear stops —
so choose the road that opens.
Two paths waiting: Try or turn away.
Choose the trying,
choose the trembling,
choose the leap today.
Jump in, begin again, grow a little more.
Every time you rise, your courage opens doors.Two paths waiting: try or turn away.
Choose the trying,
choose the trembling,
choose the leap today.
Jump in.
Start afraid.
Begin again.
Fail a little.
Grow.
Rise again.
Start afraid.
Fail a little.
Rise again.