Instead of fighting myself, I’ve accepted that I take the path of learning and failing in order to eventually master whatever I choose—in this case, photography. And when I say master, I don’t meant that I “get it right” in any technical sense at all. What I mean is that I find my voice, my creative expression, my way of giving and sharing. For a long time, I thought that giving meant giving everything. I thought that I needed to always do my best. Those beliefs held me hostage because I lived in fear of disappointing someone, making a mistake, or revealing my brokenness. But pain and discomfort are the necessary elements that I need to grow and evolve. These days I set healthy boundaries, most of the time, and I find myself returning to joy so much more quickly.