Gloriously failing the 100 day project
I have no qualms about sharing my epic failure this year at the 100 day project. As they say, nothing ventured nothing gained but admittedly I hadn’t ventured far into the project before bowing out… on day 7.
The build-up to the project had me hooked. Claims that I would grow my business, social media following and, most importantly, my skills were opportunities not to be missed but it didn’t take long to realise that this way of working just isn’t for me. I do not doubt that many people experience such wonderful outcomes completing the project and I commend those artists, even envy them slightly. So why was it not for me? It boils down to one simple fact, it turned my love and passion into a chore. Did I want to sit down at the end of a long working day, desperate for bed but having to begrudgingly create something so that I could tick the day off as complete, absolutely not!
I have thought, perhaps someday, that with a less demanding schedule, I might make it to 100 and I’ve no doubt I may feel the urge to try again but deep down I know it’s an achievement I’ll never make. My creativity needs rest days, my creativity needs freedom and most importantly I as a person need to feel the joy in some shape or form which is difficult over a continuous period and that’s ok. In saying that I also acknowledge that creativity can flourish with discipline, in fact, it often requires a whole lot of it. It is my theory though that there must still be enough levels of energy to push through. If you’ve tipped too far under the scales the situation is hopeless, the tank is empty and you’re stuck at the side of the road having not reached anywhere. Perhaps if I was a morning person and could start my day creating, I might have better odds, but that isn’t the case here.
So if any of this sounds familiar, if you happen to be a non-morning busy person with the best of intentions of completing projects like the 100 days but quickly run out of steam…enjoy your failure, and hold your head high. It’s better to let things go that aren’t for you than to be miserable clinging onto them. Maybe try it again one day, maybe not…this is your journey after all. Perhaps as I know this really isn’t for me I can call it a glorious failure and smile.
