Beginner Mindset

We all like to fancy ourselves as experts, especially in our professions. It’s hard to admit or accept that we may not be good at some of our pursuits. But viewing ourselves as a beginner can be liberating.

I’ve learned this as I’ve taken up watercolor painting since retiring from the U.S. Government. I literally had never had art instruction in my life, except for the pottery class I took once a week when I was 9 or 10. In my Florida public school education of the 1960’s and 70’s, there was no art or music in the curriculum. That’s why I was starting at zero when I started painting. I’ve found it freeing to admit I knew nothing about painting when I took my first class in January 2020.

Being an absolute beginner means that anything I do is relatively good. Because I don’t expect anything, I’m able to be freer with my style than others in my class that have a deeper art background. What helps most in watercolor painting is letting go and allowing the water to flow and work the paint. I try not to care if a painting comes out crummy since I’m doing this for me and not for a competition or sale. Embracing my beginner status has been key to letting my creative juices flow. What a revelation!   

I found being a newcomer to winter helped a lot in college. While I had skied before going to the University of Colorado, my Miami Beach roots didn’t prepare me for winter in Boulder, Colorado. I had never seen a first snow, so was awestruck that everything was so white and stunning after that first one my freshman year. I got cold much faster than my friends, so I felt no compunction going inside the lodge if I got cold while skiing. My friends would “keep Linda company” rather than admit they were too cold to stay out too. Being a beginner at winter gave me (and others) excuses to take a break — not often acceptable in the hardcore culture of young skiers.

Tourists discovering a new locale often feel much less compunction than in normal circumstances to ask a lot of questions about the best spots to visit, what restaurants to try, and other queries that we might be less inclined to ask when back in our hometowns. We accept what we don’t know, giving ourselves permission to stretch beyond our comfort zone. We get the thrill of experiencing something new.  

Not being a beginner can be a burden sometimes. I consider myself a climate change policy expert from my long career working on this issue, so can become uncomfortable around others espousing views I know are incorrect or who want involved explanations. While I loved working in climate change and clean energy, sometimes it takes effort to engage others that I don’t feel like putting forth. Had I been a beginner, I could just listen instead of feeling obliged to get into a more involved discussion on this important topic.

Having a beginner mindset can let us see the world as a toddler might – just being in awe of things around us. Rather than expecting too much of ourselves we allow ourselves to just take in information and maybe attempt an action without expecting a good result.

This has been so helpful in my painting practice. I love to say that I’m just learning. Having this attitude has helped me get better. Participating in critique sessions is part of the art experience, which is different than so many aspects of life where I would cringe if someone criticized my work.

I am still in awe of winter – I get as giddy as little kids every time it snows in the DC area.

Rather than always trying to leap ahead, approaching a hobby or endeavor as a committed newbie can help take the pressure off and just allow us to enjoy the process. It may even lead to creative leaps. Embrace being a beginner!

Recommended reads:

My inspiration for this blog – “Why embracing a beginner’s mindset at any age will change your life” from Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper.

Also from Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, “How to be radically content in a dissatisfied world.”