Low self esteem, feelings of worthlessness, and lack of purpose

[Thumpalumpacus]

I must admit I don't have a lot of hobbies because I feel like I'm juts not good or naturally gifted at anything. I'm one of those people where if I'm not good at something, I don't enjoy doing it. I know for a lot of people it's about doing something over and over again so that you can eventually get good at it.

You're going to have to confront this attitude no matter what it is you choose to do. Getting good at anything is a matter of practice -- if you're taking a cab to Carnegie Hall, it's because you'll be sitting in the audience. If you want to get there on your own, it's because you will have spent thousands of hours working on your craft.

The funny thing about life is that most of us fail miserably when we first attempt something. My first ten songs, I've loooong forgotten, because they quite literally were not worth remembering. But now, after hundreds of completed songs and thousands of little fragments, I've got a better idea of what makes something tick -- at least for me -- and that's because I practiced at the craft.

Trust me, that first time you get it right, whatever it is for you, you'll discover a great high ... and spend a hell of a lot of time chasing it. Shut your inner critic up -- that little voice that says you'll never get this right, we all had that little bastard. Shut him up. catch him while he's asleep and strangle him in bed ... then drag him out to the back yard and shoot him in the head to be sure. That little voice kills so much creativity.

You have to be willing to make mistakes, and you have to be willing to fall flat, and you have to be willing to put in the hours. But it is worthwhile doing so.