Don’t Confuse Growth with Glamour

If you want to do good, then purify yourself of the need to be seen as someone who always does the right thing.

If you want to be intelligent, then purge yourself of the need to always sound smart.

If you want to grow, then pry yourself free from the need to always look like you’re making progress.

Becoming good will sometimes require you to look bad, getting smart will sometimes require you to look dumb, and moving forward will sometimes require you to look like you’re stepping backwards.

While you’re pursuing beautiful results, don’t resent the ugliness of the process.

Nothing hinders creative and constructive work more than an obsession with always looking like you’re doing creative and constructive work.