I love to write and doodle. So why don’t I do more of it? What am I afraid of? And how do I stop the fears and get going again?
1. Fear of Failure…
Maybe my written thoughts won’t have significance to you, the reader. Do you even wonder the same things I wonder? Or explore and investigate the same questions?
Christian writer and conference speaker Philip Yancey said when he reads other people’s thoughts, he discovers he is not alone. They write about things he asks about, search for the same truths. And then he writes, hoping indeed he is not alone.
2. Fear of Success…
Maybe you’ll love my work! Then comes the expectation that the next thing I do will be equally good. But what if it isn’t? What if you don’t relate to what I write next time, or even like what I draw?
McNair Wilson, on his blog Tea with McNair, says we’re not afraid of being inadequate to the task. What we really fear is our awesome power to do it well. Once. And again. (Not an exact quote. I heard him speak at a conference and took notes.)
3. Fear of Falling Behind on the Road to Success…
Other writers and artists are more prolific. Their blogs are monetized. Their paintings are marked “Sold.”
There’s so much to learn — can I keep up?
Liz Strauss of the Successful and Outstanding Blogger blog guest-authored (on Chris Brogan’s blog) a wonderful story asking if we feel stuck on the shoulder while other folks are speeding by on the Infobahn?
Well, yes! Which is why I printed out her article and reread the parts about not spinning my wheels, reform the rut to go where I want it to go, put substance behind my wheels, get help when I need it!
I think I’ll just drop the I’m afraid’s from my vocabulary and pay attention to what these three teach me.
Fears are only overcome in the doing after all…
So I’ll pluck an idea from one of my journals, doodle it with drawings and circles and notes and connectors, twist it, and hope I bring you a new angle to think about.
Here’s a bookmark, a doodle in watercolors and ink, so you don’t lose your place while clicking on these other wonderful sites.
Maybe after tea, you’ll come back and share what stops you from doing what you love to do. And then how you’ll pull your car back on track.
Thank you so much for visiting.
Barb
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
What stops me from doing what I love is simply me. Me, the procrastinator, dilly dallying in starting, day dreaming but not acting. Me, the lazy saboteur of my own dreams.
And (I) finally, have posted – http://hellonetbaby.blogspot.com/2009/02/over-coffee-idea-fairy.html
I love that tree ‘doodle’
Thank you Sonya — I’m guilty too. And I think we have tons of company. “Lazy saboteur of my own dreams.” Wow. That’s poetry. Beautifully said but horribly indicting.
I don’t want to be one of those! Thanks so much for the Friday morning nudge.
I read your new post… Wow. You are a great writer! I will answer in a new post and point to you. (Thanks.) I posted you at Facebook and Twitter.
I really get a lot out of your posts! Thanks so much for sharing these fears – I think they are universal, and it’s liberating to overcome them.
I read something I found very interesting the other day. Researchers (sorry I can’t remember who) did a brain scan of a musician while he played. The ‘social control’ area of his brain did not activate while he played improvised jazz, but was active while he played from a musical score.
I suppose this shows that while we are being creative, we turn off the blocks that say “Will they like it?” “What if it’s not acceptable?” “Am I doing the right thing?” :-[
What I’ve always loved most about the community of the blogosphere is the way that we inspire each other. You may have been moved to write this by something I said, but in turn you have moved me to write as well.
Thank you for these beautifully written and generous thoughts. I value you and your blog.
Good point, Valerie! I opt for not worrying so much about what standard others hold me to. Chances are they aren’t judging in the first place! Hahaha!
If only I really did feel that way. Something else to work on.
Thank you Liz. That valuing thing is mutual.
I love reading your posts. They uplift and give me something to take with me for the day. I hope others who come here will meet you over there…
“Saboteurs of our own dreams”…….brilliantly coined phrase, Sonya! I have to admit being a card carrying member of this huge group. It’s comforting to know, though, that if it’s just ourselves to blame, we only have to deal with the one person we CAN control…..OURSELVES. I love that!!
Valerie, your statement about research of a musician’s brain as he played his music makes so much sense. As a musician myself, that may explain why I am transformed into someone without a care in the world while I am playing…..and even listening…..to beautiful music. I always thought of it as simply a spiritual phenonemon, but science actually has an explanation! Perhaps it’s both…..and it could be questioned as to which caused which. Very interesting!!!
This is very timely for me. I read this a few days ago: Vincent Van Gogh said, “If you hear the voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means, paint, and the voice within you will be silenced.” Because of it I feel inspired and am finally getting off my behind and trying writing!
Well, Barb I think you’re magic. You say the things we all think. You ponder and worry and then put it out there for us read and the light goes on. Yep, we all have the same feelings and worries and doubts! But you, my friend, are an inspiration to us all. Thank you for taking the time to write and paint and inspire us all! Love, Karen xx
Excellent post – I am glad I am not alone, not sure if it’s the fear of failure or success or indeed laziness for me. I find myself making any excuse not to make a start on a project, always something better to do. but once I start it takes me over and I cannot leave it till it’s done. The first step is the hardest !
What could we accomplish if we had NOTHING to fear – a question I ask myself often. Also, what you and I create is not about them- it never was – it’s between God and I- …that helps me too. This was very thought-provoking and what you say really matters to so many of us – and that beautiful tree sketch was very appealing!!!
Between you and Liz I see beyond myself in my own little world. You’ve both done a magnificent job!
Carol
ps – I will use your bookmark and think of you. I am reading the Story of Edgar Sawtelle and it is a beautifully written wonderful book.
cb
I have two, fear of failure and fear of rejection. And lemme tell ya, I’ve had plenty of both. So that should teach me it’s survivable.
Anita
Interesting book that I read “Failure is Written in Pencil” by David Ireland, which helped me tremendously. One of his quotes from the book is that the one thing that successful people all have in common is failure.
Have a look at the talk by Elizabeth Gilbert on ted.com about genius/creativity. She has to follow up her huge best-seller with another book. Her thoughts on this subject are very interesting.
very inspiring post.Remove the word i’m afraid from my vocabulary .. i plan to keep this in mind when i’m stuck in my design work and unsure if what i’m doing will be appreciated.do your best and you will get the right recognition.
Fear of success! Yes, and the self imposed responsibility that comes with it. I just want to be free, but sometimes too lazy to free myself.
Constraints… uhhhh…
Your not alone!
Barb, your Blog is utterly one of the best I have ever read. I normally don’t stay long on blogs which is more from my own time constraitnts than anything else.
Your gift for writing has never ceased to amaze me. Your blog just gets better and better.
Really loved your expression of what fear does to us. I think we can all relate to everything you have described.
It really is best just to trod ahead and not let the fears stop us. I still remember when I first saw the movie Dune and the young leading character said “fear is a mindkiller”. That had a big impact on me when I heard those words.
Kathy Pilgrim’s last blog post..favorite_paintings
Yes, fear. The fear of so many different things and the fear of nothing that you can pin down — just a dread that has you cleaning the room when you could be painting or writing. Sometimes the only way to move past the fear is to just plow though it.
Joni Solis´s last blog ..Horse feed contaminated – poisoning your horses?
I am guilty of all of the above and thanks to your beautifl writings it just puts it in black and white for me. Knowing I am not alone and thinking of failure and sucess. Always love what you write and do it so great.
Annette
artimagesbyannette.com