Author: Ifeoluwapo
Examination periods are one of the most challenging times we experience as humans. The late-night reading, sleepless nights, sips of coffee and the battle with boring courses. Every time we step into an exam hall, tension fills our bones. The fear whispers in our ears as we say a quiet prayer. The rush to answer all questions before the invigilators shout, “Pens up.”
The constant need to impress our parents and ensure their sacrifices pay off. Despite how overwhelming it can feel to face an exam, there’s a sense of fulfilment when we view our results. A burden is lifted off our shoulders when we realise that we passed. Relief washes over us, knowing we overcame the odds. Surmounting a tough mountain proves to us that we are stronger than we thought.
It’s a sign that when we put our mind to something, we can achieve it. It shows us what’s possible. This enables us to face the next journey with confidence, knowing we survived a hard phase, and we can survive another one. It exposes us to opportunities which we would never have access to if we stayed in our comfort zone.
Learning a new skill can often feel as daunting as writing an exam, especially starting out as a beginner. Without a mentor, it can feel like you’re pushing a heavy rock up a hill by yourself. Charting into new territory means starting from scratch. Things often start off messy, and we make a lot of mistakes, which can leave us questioning our potential. We prefer to binge-watch our favourite TV shows or stream Big Brother Naija rather than sit down for hours learning an online course.
In addition, we may wonder if we’re taking the right path when there are no clear guidelines as to what we should do. Some give up along the way because staying in the familiar means they get to be experts. It means they don’t have to go through life constantly questioning themselves. They feel a sense of certainty about their decisions compared to starting a new path, which often feels confusing and scary.
Yet staying in the familiar hinders our growth. It may provide short-term fulfilment, but the consequences of doing the same things continuously have a long-term effect. No one likes doing hard things because we all love to remain in a place that feels comfortable. Somewhere that doesn’t require us to push beyond our limits or look foolish. We don’t want to be mocked by friends and family for starting all over again. We want to look like we have our life figured out. But our resistance to failures and our need to remain experts at what we do come at the expense of our personal growth.
Doing the things we don’t enjoy requires us to cultivate a level of self-discipline that is beyond what we’re used to. It can feel boring and lonely to go through this journey alone without anyone to encourage us. It may seem futile to keep investing time and resources in ourselves while everyone lives their life to the fullest. We may ask if our efforts will ever amount to anything in the future. In that moment, we may not feel confident, just unsure.
However, once we’re able to overcome these challenges, we become competent and more equipped to do more than we could. This builds our confidence and prepares us for more opportunities. Suddenly, things become clearer. We find that the cost of doing difficult things proffers short-term pain, but long-term rewards. We start to make decisions with precision rather than on impulse. We feel fulfilled knowing we have a clearer picture of where we’re headed. It gives us conviction that we’re living life on purpose and not in passing.
Knowing everything can make us feel like we’re on the right track, but it keeps us stagnant. If you value creativity, you need to embrace doubts and uncertainty. It may not always look like it, but it’s a sign that you’re doing the right thing. It indicates that you recognise the dangers of certainty and the need to leave what’s familiar. No one feels doubt when they know everything. Yet knowing everything means we lose our zeal to learn more and grow even more. We become accepting of a life that’s less than what we are capable of living.
To do exploits as a creative, learning to do hard things is something you need to become comfortable with. It’s impossible to innovate without going through roadblocks that will require a strong mind and willpower. Solving problems doesn’t become a walk in the park by watching movies late into the night. It becomes easier when we learn to think outside the box. And we can only think outside the box when doing hard things is ingrained in every part of our being. So much so that it becomes a culture.
It’s also important that we don’t go through the journey of learning a new skill alone. Seeking help from various sources which align with your learning goals, such as mentors, webinars, seminars, or online courses, can make the journey feel lighter. We do this so well at Bezalel.
Thanks for sharing