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Late reply to an old thread, but hey, these issues are timeless. ;)
I have two quotes to share with you on this topic. The first is from a professional theatre director I worked with several years ago. He had stellar credentials: Royal Shakespeare Company, Old Vic, professional shows in NYC, his own theatre company in Australia, plus a number of television credentials. He told me “Every time I start work on a show, I feel certain that this is the one where I'm going to be found out - that people will realize I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.”
#2 from Kurt Vonnegut: “When I write, I feel like an armless and legless man with a crayon in my mouth.
What I take away from these (and this is reinforced by my own experience) is that you don't ever reach a point where you say “yes, I've arrived - I am a master of my artwork” - instead, you just get comfortable with feeling like you're always learning.
I've been playing the piano for a while now. I know that there are things I can play now that I couldn't play a few years ago, but that's usually not what I'm focussed on. I'm usually focussed on the things I *can't* do, simply because I'm always pushing myself and trying new things. It's like the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know! ;) I can look back and pat myself on the back for the things I've learned, but then I look ahead, see all the things I can't do, and just keep moving on.
You're exactly right when you say “I don't have to drop off the quest for excellence, but if I don't sing and write, I will never achieve it, no matter how many lessons I take” - there are some lessons that can't be learned except by just doing it, so give yourself that permission. You think you're just a beginner? Well, that's OK - lots of people feel that way, even the ones who have been doing for a very long time. :)
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