eldritchdilf-deactivated2025061:
Contrary to popular belief the biggest beginner’s roadblock to art isn’t even technical skill it’s frustration tolerance, especially in the age of social media. It hurts and the frustration is endless but you must build the frustration tolerance equivalent to a roach’s capacity to survive a nuclear explosion. That’s how you build on the technical skill. Throw that “won’t even start because I’m afraid it won’t be perfect” shit out the window. Just do it. Just start. Good luck.
Frustration tolerance is also a separate quality from capacity to focus. You have to either gently develop them side by side or first tackle one, then the other. Just dealing with your ADHD doesn’t automatically increase your frustration tolerance.
Like most skills, frustration tolerance goes down when not regularly practiced. Build it up slowly over time and then maintain it/improve it to retain this skill. If you fall off the wagon and it atrophies, just start over and don’t kick yourself for not being able to immediately tolerate a whole lot of frustration as well as you used to. Timers can help!
Frustration tolerance is so important
(Not only for getting better at your hobbies and passion projects, but also for getting through whatever dreadful day job you have to work before you can get the time and money to do the things you love)
(sooooo many times i have to chant to myself like a meditative mantra: “yes i know there is absolutely no rational reason we should have to jump through all these pointless hoops in order to do this work task. Yes, this was a bad decision by an incompetent boss somewhere. But: as purely mechanical tasks, they do not inherently suck more than the tasks that ARE necessary and meaningful. And you get paid the same for them. You will survive.”)
(i am lucky. I have had worse jobs where many of the pointless unnecessary tasks WERE also worse experiences than the necessary ones. I built frustration tolerance in those jobs that still left me overpowered for this one. I must be thankful.)