Most of us focus on pursuing things we’re good at, but what if you like doing something … and discover you’re really bad at it?

Karen Rinaldi, publisher at Harper Wave—a book imprint she founded in 2012—finds happiness in being able to surf, even though she does it poorly. Learning to accept her “suckitude” on the surfboard, she says, has helped her be more forgiving of herself in other areas of her life. In her new book, (It’s Great to) Suck at Something, she looks at the gifts she’s gained from embracing imperfection and letting go of the need to succeed at everything. She talks to us about how this has helped her find joy in the pursuit of something rather than in reaching an end goal—and how you can, too.

In this episode, you learn:

Why it’s beneficial to try something you might not be good at.
How not being good at something can invite kindness from those around you.
How sucking at something can help build resilience.

(It’s Great to) Suck at Something With Karen Rinaldi