On Authors Talk about Fear and How to Overcome It
Hey friends,
For the past 2 years, something happened and I've stopped writing, podcasting and doing anything creative.
It's like I've been paralysed mentally and started self rejecting my work. The thing is a year before that, I stopped recording and producing my podcast "Patience Mindset', I started to debate the value and worthiness of my ideas. People messaged and told me they enjoyed the podcast. There is a variety of reasons and excuses I use to rationalise why I wasn’t sharing my writing and podcast with others, but it boiled down to fear.
After some deep reflection, I realised that fear is not something that must be avoided. I learned fear is not an indicator that you're doing things wrong, fear is simply a cost that all creators have to pay on the way to doing meaningful work. I discovered if you have an idea, story or project you want to create, I think you should share it. I believe you should believe it. If you have a dream or passion you want to pursue that would make the world a better place, it's your responsibility to share it with the world. But it wont be easy. All creators deal with fear, self-doubt, questions, and a roller coaster ride of emotions.
With that in mind, here are 4 passages from authors on how to overcome fear and unshackle your creativity.
Do Whatever It Takes to Confront Your Fears
“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.”
Judy Blume
Consistently Exercise Your Courage, Not Fear
"The exact process you use to build courage isn't important. What's important is that you consciously do it. Just as your muscles will atrophy if you don't regularly stress them, your courage will atrophy if you don't consistently challenge yourself to face down your fears. In the absence of this kind of conscious conditioning, you'll automatically become weak in both body and mind. If you aren't regularly exercising your courage, then you are strengthening your fear by default; there is no middle ground."
Steve Pavlina
The only thing stopping you is fear, and the only thing that will get you past it is courage. What you do with your life isn't up to your parents, boss or your spouse.
It's up to you and you only.
Try Things You Haven't Done Three Times
"I don’t go around regretting things that don't happen."
"Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not." Virgil Thomson
It's important to not worry about what people or critics says about your work, you should only hope for them to consume it. It's not your job grade or reject your work, your job is to create and share it to the world.
The Takeaway Message
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
Freddy Roosevelt
Create and contribute to the world around you. Try new things that scare you. Life is not meant to spent solely consuming the things others have made. Always remember, the chance to preserve through self-doubt, fear, and procrastination is one of the greatest opportunities to grow and learn more about yourself.
As Alan Watts puts it, "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."
Stay mindful,
Pách Deng