Dare To Be Wrong

“Nothing will stop you being creative so effectively as the fear of making a mistake.  

Creativity is an ability to play. To play is to experiment.

What happens if I do this?
What would happen if I did that?
What if?

The essence of playfulness is an openness to anything that may happen.  The feeling that whatever happens, it’s ok. 

You can’t be playful if you’re frightened that moving in some direction will be wrong, something you shouldn’t have done. 

You’re either free to play or you’re not.

The best way to get the confidence to do that, is to know that while you’re being creative, nothing is wrong.” 

-John Cleese

Fear won’t find the character.

Stop holding yourself back. Who cares if you look foolish?

What if you didn’t care what anybody thought?

What if you didn’t have to be good?
What if you didn’t have to be right?

Do it wrong. Try doing it wrong. How did that feel? What did you learn?

If you don’t practice this way,
If you don’t take risks,
If you don’t give yourself permission to fail,

You won’t free yourself to do your best work.

Overcome your fear of being wrong.
Get over the embarrassment of pretending.
Jump in the sandbox and play.

Your job is to create a compelling character that serves the text.

Walk into the burning building. Shatter the fear.
You have to be allowed to fail.

Being uncomfortable doesn’t mean you’re terrible, it means you’re learning.

“The only safe thing is to take a chance. Play safe and you are dead. Taking risks is the essence of good work.” - Mike Nichols‍ ‍

Dare to do things outrageously wrong, but at least try them.

Meryl Streep was asked how she keeps herself from going over the top in her roles, she laughed and replied, “I never stop myself from that. That’s my chance.”

The risk of it is also the courage that allows it to happen.