I often tell others that they should start creating something and put it out into the world.
What we create can be anything. You can paint a mural, create a podcast, launch a product or service, start a blog, or write a book. Whatever it is, I believe that when we create and put something out there, it helps us and other people grow.
While this sounds simple, anyone who has considered doing so probably has experienced the incredibly vulnerable feeling that comes with the act of creation.
I recently got a great question from someone in the Break the Twitch community around this, and have received similar questions in the past. The questions really boil down to this:
In a world full of content clutter, wouldn’t my creation just be adding to the noise? What do I have to offer and why would others care about what I have to say?
I’ve had these same exact feelings before—wondering if what I put out there will actually add any value. I ended up ignoring these thoughts, and putting something out there anyway. Several years later, I’m glad I did, and I hope to encourage you to start creating as well.
Why I think you should start creating and share the dang thing:
1 / You have a unique perspective
Each one of us has a unique experience and perspective to share. Sharing your story, your background, and what you’ve learned from the experiences you’ve had can be a powerful way to connect with others who have had similar experiences. Even in a cluttered and noisy world, it’s likely your perspective will be helpful to at least a few people.
Maybe someone had a similar upbringing, or is experiencing the same problem. Perhaps your personal challenges—what you view as a burden and disadvantage—can actually be a strength. This brings us to the next reason.
2 / It may help change a life (or more)
While it can feel intimidating when you start creating and sharing, would it be worthwhile if it significantly helped one other person? At what point would it be worthwhile for you to step out of your comfort zone and keep on creating? Perhaps your unique experience can help more than a few people; it can help hundreds or more.
For me, it took just one person. I still remember when I received a comment from someone saying that what I shared had been helpful. That was when I knew I needed to keep going. The same can happen for you.
3 / You’ll learn by doing
This of course depends on how you learn best. For me (and I think for most people), the best learning comes from actual, hands-on experience. I never was good at memorizing information and taking tests. I learned from trying, failing, and trying until something started to work. It may not be the fastest way to learn, but that’s what stuck for me.
My personal motto is to make stuff so you can learn how to make stuff better. Start with what you have, and you’ll learn how to improve and what else you need to know as you go along.
4 / There’s an internal benefit of clarity
One of the greatest benefits of creating and sharing something with the world, is it forces you to clarify what might only exist in your mind. By putting something out there in the world, you’re forced to write, describe or portray how you’re feeling and thinking. You’re forced to have an opinion.
When I first started this blog, I shared my own intentional journey and experience with minimalism. The act of blogging and making YouTube videos as I went along definitely enhanced my learning and opinions on the topic. But even if what you create doesn’t get shared publicly, the act of making something is still beneficial for your own clarity and growth.
5 / Sharing your creation creates conversations
The act of creating and sharing creates conversations. The content I put out there about why you should start creating prompted the question from Joe. The question I received from Joe then prompted this blog post and video—which will hopefully inspire more conversations.
That’s what this is all about. All of us sharing, learning and conversing together.
6 / It’s about letting go of the results
If you’re inspired to create something, it’s likely because it’s somehow important to your journey. And the journey is all about the experience of learning and growth, not the results. When you create, let go of the result and be open to whatever happens after.
You never know what’s going to happen anyway, so why would you hinge your creations on specific outcomes? Start creating and putting something out there just because you want to do it. Don’t worry about what other people may think or how many views or comments your creation gets.
Really, it’s up to us to start creating and put something out there. It’s our obligation to create and share what we know, in order to inspire others to create and share something. The act of creating is all about you—and at the same time—not about you at all. It’s about your growth, the growth of others, and for the good of us all.
So yes, for all the reasons above and more, I do think you should start creating something. Start a blog, a podcast, or whatever you feel called to do. Just make the dang thing and share it with the world.