It’s a good moment to reflect on creativity, purpose, and how we spend our time. Are you living the life you want? Have you found your purpose and are you pursuing your goals with focus and passion?
I’m happy to say I’m largely living my dreams, but I still veer off course sometimes and lose sight of my priorities. Staying focused isn’t always easy.
Take my faux fireplace project, for example. Before I go on, a quick note: the photos below show an unfinished, undecorated piece. It’s temporarily tacked together because I didn’t have the right tools. Here’s what I learned from the experience.
Remember this project? I was excited about creating a small DIY fireplace mantel.
For about a day.
I got partway through and then stopped in frustration. If you’ve forgotten this project, I don’t blame you—this was ages ago. I avoided talking about it because I didn’t want to admit defeat or invite DIY ridicule.
The short version: I owned an architectural mantel I wanted to use in my entry. The wall I planned to place it on had an awkwardly positioned air return vent. I wanted to conceal the vent without restricting airflow and fill the large wall space in a way that looked natural.
I asked readers for ideas and received many thoughtful suggestions. One comment joked that the mantel belonged in a showroom rather than a home, which stung a bit, but I moved past it. I love architectural pieces and was determined to make it work.
Instead of choosing a simple approach and finishing the project quickly, I decided to attempt something beyond my usual DIY comfort zone—cutting, measuring, nailing into solid wood—tasks that require specialized tools and experience.
What was I thinking?
What was I thinking?
I had an inspirational photo that convinced me I could recreate a chunky, architectural mantel. I bought wood slats at the hardware store that seemed ideal. In my head it was perfect. In reality, things didn’t go smoothly. I lacked the right tools and the pieces didn’t come together as I’d hoped.
I ran out of patience. I asked my husband for help, but building with tools isn’t his gift either. We stood there with wood and insufficient tools, and frustration got the better of us. We’re not a power-DIY couple.
Now the unfinished mantel mocks me every day. I want it done, but I don’t want to do it—and I don’t want to buy tools I’ll rarely use. That’s admitting a project fail.
Let’s pause and consider: was attempting something beyond my skill level a mistake?
Trying something new is not a mistake when growth, learning, or a genuine desire motivates you. Stretching yourself is how you develop, grow a business, or reach goals. Persistence and hard work are necessary for achievement.
But it’s also important to know your limits and choose what to improve and what to accept. We can’t be skilled at everything. Deciding which abilities to cultivate and which to delegate or defer protects our energy for goals that truly matter.
I know that detailed carpentry and tool-heavy projects aren’t my strength. I’d rather pay a pro to finish it so I can focus on decorating, family, and creative projects that bring me joy. My husband supports the family in his own ways; building with tools simply isn’t his passion either.
I briefly forgot my priorities and tried to do something that didn’t align with this season of life. It wasn’t essential, so I set myself up for frustration. Now it’s an unfinished task that drains creative energy.
Projects involving specialized tools and unnecessary friction are not my passion—reminding myself of that saves time and frustration.
Of course, we can’t outsource everything. Sometimes you’ve got to roll up your sleeves. The key is discerning when to push yourself to learn and when to accept your limits and invest your time where it counts most.
Even superheroes have limitations.
Decide the life you want and pursue it with gusto. Don’t waste time on tasks that don’t move you toward your goals or that deplete your creative energy. Let others be the tool-savvy heroes if that frees you to do the work you love.
Remember your priorities. By saying no to one thing you don’t have to do, you’re saying yes to something you love even more.
We only have so many minutes each day—how will you spend them?
Choosing how to spend your time helps you live authentically and thrive in your passion. Make daily decisions about what not to do so you can focus on work that matters to you and brings joy.
You don’t have to be a DIY diva who tries to do everything. You can create a life that reflects your unique style and priorities—with humor, grace, and a clear creative purpose.
Do you struggle with feeling like you must do it all yourself?
Are you sabotaging your happiness because you spread your energy across tasks that aren’t aligned with your gifts and priorities?
It’s hard to stay on track, but you can do it. Focus on what you love and what matters most, and let go of the rest.
So many life lessons come from a failed DIY project. As for my fireplace saga, the ending is still undecided.