Let’s assume you are writing your first book. At the moment, the book feels murky, like being lost in the fog. Some parts you know, some parts you have a hunch about, and some parts you have no clue about at all.

You may wonder, “Why am I writing this book? Am I capable of writing it?” Why does difficulty and discomfort feel like failure, even when you are actively engaged in meaningful work?

The answer lies in the nature of the work you are doing. Is it algorithmic or heuristic?

In algorithmic work, you have a clear set of steps that take you from point A to point D. Suppose you want to bake a cake. There is a recipe to follow, and if you complete the steps correctly, you will get the expected result.

In heuristic work, that process does not exist. Imagine that you want to create a completely new cake. There is no recipe for it. In fact, you may not even know what “new” means yet. You have to rely on trial and error. Sometimes you move forward, and other attempts lead nowhere. At any stage, you do not know whether you are getting closer to the solution or moving further away from it.

This uncertainty is inherent to heuristic work, and that uncertainty is at the heart of creativity.

Algorithmic work can sometimes be harder than heuristic work, but it offers clarity. The method is clear, repeatable, and predictable. In heuristic work, however, the destination may be clear, but the route is not.

Here’s where the problem arises. When effort is not accompanied by immediate feedback, all you are left with is uncertainty. Instead of recognizing that uncertainty as a natural part of the process, we often begin to think that we are incapable or that the task is simply not our cup of tea.

You have to learn that this is part of the process. When you are creating something new, periods of doubt, confusion, and despair are inevitable. They do not mean that you are failing. They do not mean that you are wasting your time on this planet.

You have to stay with this slow, often painful process of iteration if you want to reach your goal.

Even if your earlier work felt like failure, it was not. It was simply part of the process.