“Look Stupid”

Every day, I tell you. Without fail, the enemy voice shows up.

“You’ll look stupid” was the ring in my ear this morning. It’s the residual message from elementary school, or, whenever it was the first time I became self-conscious of others looking at me, measuring me up, and judging me.

Maybe it was third grade when Johnny snickered in the back when I was presenting my book report.

Perhaps it was in fifth grade when I made the mistake of dressing like a girl for Halloween—and was laughed at all day.

Possibly junior high when I was picked on for having a big head (or big feet, or funny knees, or a big gap in my teeth).

Maybe even high school when I learned that any wrong move would result in collective laughter in the cafeteria.

“You’ll look stupid” confirms the fear of public scrutiny.

It’s helpful to remember: Any work that goes public, which is almost all work that matters, is open to criticism and therefore vulnerable to “looking stupid”. In other words, vulnerability is inherent to work that matters.

You’re not in elementary school anymore. And anyone that might think your work looks stupid is likely still stuck there.

Push on. We need it.