How to encourage BPD to pursue a hobby

[slothabee]

Hi, my BPD sibling-in-law is trying to figure out how to get motivated to feel better. I brought up pursuing writing, which they have expressed interest in in the past. And they are pretty good at writing. However, they responded back that anything they think they want to do, they are likely to fail at, so why bother writing if people won't care for it. I'm not sure how to respond (this communication was all via email). I want to help them feel more confident to at least try, but I don't want to set them up for disappointment. Let's be honest: Anyone who puts their writing out there is likely to receive criticism that is not positive, and that could be devastating for a BPD looking for validation. How should I respond?

[Naughty Nibbler]

Welcome Slothabee: 

A couple of suggestions could be volunteering. Perhaps they volunteer for some charity that involves writing.  Spring is near and it's a great season to get into photography.  Going out for hikes or walks with a camera can be uplifting.  Then, once they take the photos, they can spend some time editing.