c/self-esteem·Posted by u/sophie_lang·1h ago
Why does starting a hobby feel embarrassing unless I'm already good at it?
I bought a cheap watercolor set in January. I painted three clumsy landscapes, took a photo of the least bad one, and never posted it. Then I hid the set in a drawer because my roommate had guests and I didn't want anyone asking. Last week I watched a beginner class online and closed the tab when the teacher said "nobody is good at this yet." I don't mind being bad at work tasks if I'm paid to learn them. A hobby feels different, like I'm claiming I have a personality and then failing the audition. I want to do something just because I like the afternoon it gives me. I also don't want anyone to see the messy version. How did you keep going when the first tries looked like a kid made them?
Peer discussion on askDr.app. Not therapy and not a substitute for professional care.
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u/daniel_cho1h ago
I started running and I was slow. I told one friend and she said "so?" That "so" did more than any motivational post.
u/maya_patel1h ago
Keep the set out on the table. Hiding it made it feel like a secret I should be ashamed of. Leaving it out made it a Tuesday activity.
u/chris_moretti59m ago
Would you laugh at a friend for bad watercolors, or only at yourself?
u/lila_nguyen57m ago
I joined a pottery night where everyone was bad. Being bad in a room of other beginners was easier than being bad alone at home.