It is often difficult to find the heart to create. I keep thinking to myself that my work isn’t good enough, that there’s a million people who can do better than me. So what’s the point of trying? But recently I’ve realized something that changed my perspective.

As kids we were fearless, we didn’t care what others thought of us, we didn’t set unhealthy expectations and set restrictions for ourselves. We wrote silly stories, colored outside the lines, and sang out of tune with a big smile. Creativity and imagination were bursting from our hearts. We didn’t care if what we created was messy or even objectively bad, we created simply because we wanted to, because it gives us joy. We proudly declared that this is my work, and I will show it to the whole world. 

But somewhere in the process of growing up, things change. We demonize our mistakes, we get rid of the things that make us unique in the hopes of fitting in. In essence, we stopped dreaming. Most of us quietly slip into an automatic way of living, going through the daily motions without any joy or inspiration. 

Funny thing is, rather than the world opening up when you become an adult, it becomes far more restricted, you feel boxed in by your responsibility and circumstance. You feel the weight of the choices you made that got you where you are, and the pressure of the whole world closing in around you. Comparison, expectations and harsh competition stifle our creative spirits. We got so caught up in trying to survive and conform to the norm that we forgot to live. 

If we keep doing this, then we’ll never create anything unique that brings us joy, we’ll never use our imagination and self expression. The world will become a less interesting place. So set yourself free, go write a poem, paint with watercolor, try to make up a fun song on the piano. Use our past selves as an inspiration, a teacher. Detach yourself from fear, guilt and ego. Make your past and future self proud by creating something that's truly an expression of your soul; be fearless and show the world that you’re not afraid to shine anymore.