A few months ago, back when social contact was still part of our daily lives before the Covid-19 crisis, I had a memorable studio visit in Barcelona. Fredrik Haren, someone who dedicates his time to exploring creativity around the world, stopped by to learn more about my glass art. Our conversation turned out to be surprisingly eye-opening and got me thinking deeply about my own creative journey.
During our chat, we touched on many ideas, but one that really stuck with me was the role of failure in the creative process. It’s something I’ve been reflecting on for a long time — how mistakes and setbacks can be crucial for growth. I’ve always felt that acknowledging and embracing failure is important for moving forward as an artist.
That day, we came up with a phrase to describe this concept: the “mierda! moment.”
The word “mierda” means “crap” in Spanish, and it captures that frustrating moment when things don’t work out as planned. Rather than seeing it as negative, I’ve come to realize that this moment can be transformative. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and find new energy to tackle creative challenges with a different mindset.
The idea of the “mierda! moment” is about recognizing failure as part of the process and learning to use it as fuel for creativity. It’s not always easy, but it can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and help you see your work from a new perspective.
If you’d like to read more about this concept and how to make the most of your own creative challenges, check out Fredrik’s article on Thrive Global, where he shares his thoughts on the topic.
Original article: The ‘mierda!’ moment – By Fredrik Härén