Learning is something we have been doing since infancy. Yet somewhere along the way we began to fear mistakes.
Reading and writing aren’t skills we are born with. They take time, patience and practice to develop.
But this reality is often overlooked, especially when people expect instant success.
Whether it’s math or drawing, too many people expect great results without putting in the time to understand the process.
This cycle is made worse by rising perfectionism among younger people.
A 2024 study by the American Psychological Association revealed that younger generations place continually higher standards for themselves. Compounded over time, such perfectionist attitudes take a significant toll on mental health.
Part of this dilemma can be credited to the rise of social media, a space where perfection is routinely flaunted and crafted to appear far more effortless than it actually is.
What many overlook is that those posting their perfection online often have years of experience. Their results didn’t happen overnight.
Comparing yourself to an unrealistic standard easily leads to frustration and self-doubt.
Even when you’re aware of this trap, stepping away from making unfair comparisons is easier said than done.
For example, I’ve been trying to learn how to draw for over two years. Looking at inspiration online often leaves me wondering why I’m still not good enough.
Sometimes I don’t even want to finish my art if it doesn’t look good enough. But a hobby isn’t about performance.
Hobbies should be relaxing, or at the very least, not stressful. They are something to do for fun or to wind down after a long day. They shouldn’t leave you more stressed than when you started.
Perfectionism is a poison to your brain, and your lifelong learning journey. There is no way to learn without error.
There’s this phrase that I love: “It’s okay to make mistakes, that is how you learn.”
It’s such a powerful and true mindset, and it’s more relevant today than ever. My advice is to just do it. Start painting, start studying, start coding, start trying and start failing.
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2025 print edition.
