Pain to Passion

Angela Duckworth points out in Grit that if the “10,000 hours rule” really worked on its own, then simply doing something every day should make us world-class at it. But that’s not how it works. As she explains, real progress always involves some struggle—pushing yourself just beyond what feels comfortable.

I experienced this when I committed to posting a photo on Instagram every single day for almost two years now. In the beginning, it was painful to take and edit enough photos to keep up. But over time, it became easier—much like lifting weights. At first, they feel heavy, but with consistency, you adapt, and then you have to challenge yourself with more weight if you want to keep improving.

When a friend asked me to shoot her wedding, the idea terrified me at first. I spent months studying and preparing for it. Saying yes to that challenge not only forced me to learn new skills, but it also deepened my passion for photography.