What is your hobby?

By definition, a hobby is an activity that someone does for pleasure when they are not working. For some people, their hobby turns into their work, but at the same time, there are those who think that if it turns into work, it is no longer a hobby. Anyway, I would like to write about the advantages of having a hobby. Maybe I have already mentioned my current hobby and its benefits, but I would like to dive into them a little bit more since their effects helped me a lot. 

I am a crochet lover, learning knooking and knitting as well. These are techniques that I learned with my mom and through YouTube. There are fantastic online crocheting tutors, such as Anne Galante/Escola de Artes Manuais and Soraia Lima/Bendito Fio.

This handicraft art teaches me some precious lessons, something possible to develop as you go deeper into the technique. It also helps developing persistence, creativity, confidence, concentration, memory, learning process, boundaries, adjustments and consistency. Wow, how wonderful it is, isn’t it? A bunch of soft skills that can be applied to different areas. But for now, I would like to focus on the learning benefit, which helped me to cope with some fears.

Especially in the beginning, finding some mistakes in your crochet projects is totally normal. I have already opened and restarted the same project many times. That’s ok! Everybody is allowed to make mistakes. It is simple, isn’t it? No, it is not. The way we handle our mistakes shows our core beliefs. Let me explain.

The fear of making a mistake and your inner thoughts can have a huge impact on ordinary life. One of the impacts of fear of making mistakes is rumination. It is a habit of dwelling on the past and your shortcomings. It is overthinking how miserable you are, making questions such as “Why couldn’t I be better?” “Why am I such a failure?”. In an attempt to repair the mistake, overthinking can generate depression, discouraged, and hopelessness. 

Instead of overthinking, while reviewing memories, try to understand your behaviour, and keep in mind different options. It could turn out to be pretty helpful! It may help show you how to cope with mistakes, help you remain open and encourage you to be brave enough to create something new – the ability to persist.

When I restart a project I am confident that I am able to do it better. I learn new lessons, prepare myself, become more focused and that’s ok. Many handcrafters experience the same positive benefits. Maybe it is time for you start doing the same?