Rules

Further thoughts on change

Jun 08, 2024

Have you spent a large amount of effort deliberating over a decision? Taking time to research different aspects of an issue, identifying imaginary what if scenarios and planning coping strategies? And finally after what seems like an eternity of struggle, we make a decision and hope for the best, maybe even forgetting to breathe throughout the process.

Once that decision is made, we sit and wonder if the effort vs value equation is balanced. Sometimes, not often, stars align and pieces of information or events happen, helping validate our actions or redirect our path. I found myself in exactly such a position after making a series of decisions involving changes to my creative process.

A chapter in Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, about our adherence to tried and tested templates really sang out to me. In this chapter, Rick asks the reader what they have to lose from reviewing the guidelines that shape the way we work. Should we always follow the same approach? What would come from questioning deep seated conventions?

"Any rule is worth testing, be it conscious or unconscious. Challenge your assumptions and methods. You might find a better way. And even if it is not better, you'll learn from the experience. All these experiments are like free throws. You have nothing to lose."

This chapter came at the right time. While I was not second guessing my decisions, there is a niggle of self doubt that hides around the corner of my conscious self. While it can be easy to be a victim of confirm bias, the consequences of making a mistake is pretty low. I can sell the camera I bought, I can change the look and feel of the images in post production and it is only a website, I have back ups of what I wrote.