Have you ever started cooking a meal, writing a paper, or working on some kind of project but ended up not finishing because you thought it was ruined? You may have restarted it or decided against the project altogether. You are not alone! I was in an art class when I learned the “unbaked cake theory.” My teacher explained how a baker would never take their cake out of the oven twenty minutes before it was done baking to see if it tastes right. The bakers wait. They wait until the cake is finished baking completely and then they try it and decide how it tastes. If the baker tried their unbaked cake it would taste terrible… well, because the cake needs to finish baking!
My art teacher told my class this theory after many people kept throwing out and restarting their work because they deemed it “ruined”. But their work was not ruined, it was just not completely baked! I really took the unbaked cake theory to heart and started thinking about how much it applies to my life! Keep reading to learn the reasons why you are not baking the cake all of the way, how to help, and what happens when you do bake the cake all of the way!
Am I not baking the cake all of the way?
While I learned the unbaked cake theory in an art class, I could not help but think of all of the unbaked cakes I have had in my life! I have been notorious for deciding I “ruined” a recipe for a meal and throwing it all away! It was not until pretty recently I decided to keep trying to make the meal until the end- then decide it really was inedible or an interesting creation. If you follow me on Instagram, you might know that I am also learning how to draw! It came to a point where I had more incomplete drawings that I did not want to finish than completed works of art. I had trouble seeing the potential. When learning a new sport people might think they do not have the skills they need to play and quit altogether, but they might just need more practice. Evaluate your life and see where you tend to leave cakes unbaked. Below I listed some reasons why you might not be baking the cake all the way.
Why do we not bake the cake all the way?
1 | We are afraid of failure.
Failure is scary. Unfortunately, just the thought of failure stops many people from trying. If failure scares you, check out my article on three reasons to not fear failure and how to fail the right way! When failure stops us from trying, it makes it impossible to succeed! However, when we push past the fear of failure, the possibilities are endless!
2 | We are impatient.
We live in a fast-paced world. It is all but too easy to think of a project as ruined and to start again from the beginning with the mindset that it will work out this time- or to give up the project altogether. But, if you are going to restart you are already losing all of the time you have already put into this project that could be salvaged! Patience is key to many things in life and the unbaked cake theory is no different. Lucky for us, we can work on and improve our patients!
“Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” David G. Allen
3 | We get frustrated with the learning process.
Sometimes we get discouraged while trying to learn something new and think we just cannot do it. The learning process is just that- a process with highs and lows. The learning process is also very individualized. Did you know there are seven different learning styles? Changing how you are going about something could make all the difference! Check out these learning tips to help you succeed!
4 | We do not believe in ourselves
I will admit that not believing in myself has resulted in plenty of unbaked cakes. Sometimes our minds cannot see the light. We have a hard time trying to understand how what we are working on will actually come together for us- or how we can make this work. But, nothing positive ever came from negative thinking!
How to Bake the Cake All The Way
Baking the cake all of the way sounds easy enough. Just keep going, right? Not exactly. There is a reason the unbaked cake theory exists and here are some tips to keep on baking your cake!
1 | Take a break.
When things seem to be going wrong and you feel yourself getting frustrated, this is the time to take a break. Working when you are upset makes it more likely you will make a mistake and you are not thinking clearly. Take a moment to walk away and drink a glass of water to help calm you down. You can even go into your self-care kit to help get you relaxed before you get back in the zone!
“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.” Banksy
2 | Believe in yourself.
Believing in yourself opens you up to countless possibilities! Believing in myself has been a process, but I have been getting better! Positive affirmations have helped me believe in myself more- and they are so simple to use! The book You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
3 | Be proud of yourself.
You did it! You did not give up! When you thought the odds were against you, you kept on trying. If that is not something to celebrate then I do not know what is! I am a big fan of celebrating our little victories and when I keep baking cakes, I see it as a huge victory!
RELATED: Your Little Victories and Big Reasons to Celebrate!
4 | Stay Motivated
It can be hard to stay motivated, especially when we think something has gone wrong. Make a list of reasons why you want to accomplish this goal and write out why you may not be motivated. My vision board has been an enormous help in helping me stay motivated! Check out some more motivation tips here.
What happens when we bake the cake all the way?
When we bake the cake all of the way, only good things happen! There are two possible outcomes of a cake when you bake it: the cake is good or the cake is… not so good. The cake that does not turn out good is not a failure though. The cake shows your perseverance and how you still believe in yourself when the odds may have been against you. Both cakes should be celebrated because you put the work into them!
My Unbaked Cakes
Just last week I had an unbaked cake I almost did not finish! Well, it was muffins technically. I used baking powder instead of baking soda in the recipe and noticed right before I poured the batter into my reusable liners
Please comment below and tell me what you think of the unbaked cake theory! Can you relate to the theory and leaving cakes unbaked in your life? If you know someone who could benefit from this article, please show you care and share the bear! Be sure to sign up for my emails and follow on social media to get the most of the positive world of Brightside Bear!
