Are you creatively potty trained?

Topic for today – Poo. 💩

Yep we went there. I mean we can’t talk about Growing up without talking about Poo at some point. 

Maybe it won’t be the type of poo you are thinking about, but that’s the point… You’re interested in finding out now 😉 

So, what am I talking about? Because as much as I hope your bowel movements are regular, I do not really care that much about them. What I am more interested in is talking about sharing work that we would consider to be ‘poo’. You know the type of thing that you create and aren’t sure of, so you shelf rather than send it out into the world, because it’s really hard to want to show your poo to the world. Firstly, because well you don’t want other people to see your poo, and secondly because you don’t think there will be any value in it and perhaps thirdly you believe that if they see your poo they will never come back to see what is next. 

Lots of reasons to want to keep it to yourself. 

But the problem with keeping it to yourself, is you never get feedback to learn how to make it less shit, you don’t find your audience or people who want to engage with you, and finally you don’t practice the bravery that it takes to share any work with the world. Because we all know mostly the challenge part of creative work, or doing anything where you put yourself out there, is the part where you share it. The part where you give people the chance to judge your work and perhaps you as well. 

It’s easy to not want to, it’s scary, uncomfortable and feedback or rejection can be downright painful. But without it there is no growth, and there is certainly no satisfying self-expression. I am realising more and more that the fear, the discomfort and the pain doesn’t go away. It is part of growing up. The question is how do you want to feel that? Because you tried or because you didn’t. Either way it’s coming for you. 

Which is why I want to talk about poo – and remind you that at some point in your life pooing was scary, it was something you had to figure out how to do on a toilet, which probably had many accidents along the way – which I have no doubt were scary, uncomfortable and maybe even painful. But you didn’t it. And maybe your Mum or Dad even congratulated you for your efforts. Which is what I think we can learn from our toddler selves. 1. It’s ok to get it wrong, because eventually the practice helps you get it right, and 2. You need the people to be congratulating you for your bravery. So, find your support squad, and dive in (Not to poo – gross. But to the sharing of it!)