Letting Go of Expectations
We’ve spent the past month in Death Valley, and we came in with big plans; backpacking trips, exploring new canyons, and a lot of time camping in remote places.
Almost none of that happened.
Our first backpacking attempt ended before it began when Jennifer’s water bladder leaked nearly a gallon of water onto all of her gear on the drive to the trailhead. We also had cold weather, closed roads, workshops, and finally extreme heat that made many of our plans unrealistic.
Yesterday I realized how much this had been affecting my mood. I felt strangely defeated, like we hadn’t accomplished what we came here to do.
Which is ironic, because this is exactly the mindset we encourage people to avoid in our workshops.
We always say to come without rigid expectations, to enjoy the experience and allow the photographs to reveal themselves.
When I stepped back and looked honestly at the month, the reality was very different. We created images we’re excited about, spent time with great friends, and shared some wonderful workshops with incredible people.
In truth, it was a fantastic month!
It just didn’t look like the one I imagined.
A good reminder: it’s fine to have plans and ideas. Just don’t let expectations become the measure of your creative life.