"The greatest shackles we bear in this life are those forged by our own fears."
Richard Paul Evans - The Looking Glass
When I first started writing, I experienced various emotions-excitement, euphoria over actually finishing a book, and pride.
But I also felt fear.
I worried about how my book would be received. Will people like it? Will they think I am a good writer, or will my work be perceived as amateurish? Will readers be happy they bought the book or will they wish they could get their money back? Will other authors read my book and shake their heads at my inexperience? Do my grandmother and mother-in-law really like it and think my work is good or are they only biased?
So many of these questions fed my fear of failing and held me back. I mean, I definitely wasn't the greatest writer in the world and I'm still not, nor I will never be, but that fear still garnered a space inside me and kept me from growing as a writer. It wasn't until I let that emotion go and became fearless that I truly began to develop my own voice in the world of the written word.
Each of us has a talent, one that, given the time and the desire to persevere, can take us as far as we want to go. But only if we hold onto the goal and let go of the fear of failing. Being fearless isn't just a state of mind, it's a state of being, and when we finally reach that place in ourselves where we truly understand our potential, nothing can stop us or hinder our way.
Life is a journey, and if we keep fear from blocking the path or deterring the way, eventually we will reach our destination.
6 comments:
Great Post, Jewel. I have to teach a class on staying motivated to write. I'm going to definitely use it as a reference...giving credit of course.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing, Jewel. I've learned to embrace and love the journey myself. It's worth every moment.
Excellent and timely. We are dealing with fear in our writing and in life. Faith can get you through both.
I know I'm meant to write, and so I continue. I believe the desire was placed in my heart for a purpose. It doesn't matter to me what it is, just that I write.
Thank you for another fine post.
"The only thing to fear is fear itself". Being a beginner at writing, there is alot for me to fear. I can do it though and I will. Thanks for your words of wisdom.
What a great quote and post, too. I totally agree with you. Once we recognize our fears and strive to conquer them, we will feel blessed, and brave, and talented, and unstoppable! We all have the courage to do this. It just takes finding it.
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