My standard advocacy for change is small, sustainable pieces. My eating habits changed that way. My exercise habits changed that way. My financial habits changed that way. (I do think there are situations where this isn’t the best, but it applies more broadly than cold turkey, in my opinion and experience.)
Bits that are so small and easy, they feel like they don’t count. Consistently, relentlessly, over time.
When you learn any new skill, at best you get a tiny bit better each day. More often, you keep inputting (read: practicing) without making much tangible progress (plateau) and then suddenly, your skill level jumps. More visually a set of stairs than a gradual hill.
I find that this also works in mindset. Back when Google Reader was a thing, I had a handful of finance blogs that fed me regularly. My spending and savings habits slowly shifted.
Currently, my Instagram account is all nice things: heartwarming or art or dancing or people who post nice things.
Talking to people who do creative work on a regular basis helps me to do creative work on a regular basis.
This is also why spending a lot of time with people who are antithetical to who you want to be often yields bad results.
One of the more recent ways I’ve applied this is towards my belief in my photography skills.
Part of the process of taking photos is choosing the good ones of the batch. Being able to see the strengths and weaknesses of a shot is a skill that develops with time and use, just like any other skill. Looking at photos I used to think were good, I see flaws in them now.
But a few have stood the test of time (so far).
A handful of photos that I shot that I really love rotate (automatically) as wallpaper on my computer. Often when one pops up that I recently added and haven’t seen yet, it makes me smile.
For example, the lead photo popped up recently, larger than I see it anywhere else, crisp and clear.
As I see these over time, they help me to believe in my efficacy for photography.
I know not every shot is going to be a winner. (True no matter how good you get at photography!) But I also know that some of the shots are excellent. And that piece is valuable.
How can you drip some confidence into yourself?
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