You’d think that as a self-identified writer, words would never escape me; that I would be able to conjure up my thoughts and feelings through the written and oral language with ease and grace.
Ahem. You’d be wrong.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve sat at my computer, fingers hovering over the keyboard just waiting… waiting for something to come to me, or out of me, or through me. In these moments, it’s not so much that I don’t have anything to write or say. It’s more that, well, those voices that prey on my fears and insecurities get really loud!
“How can you think that you have anything worthwhile to write? Who do you think is even listening?”
Some days the voices win, and I look at my writing and think it’s complete dribble, but on the days when I can convince myself to ignore those fears and insecurities and see them for what they are (neurosis) I find myself at gate number two.
I take a step back and get some perspective… and then that voice shows up again.
“That didn’t make any sense? What are you playing at here? Who do you think you are?”
Let me tell you something about those voices. They don’t go away. Sorry!
BUT, we can learn how to live with them, instead of resisting them or trying to ignore them (which usually doesn’t work by the way).
Writing. Creativity. Art. LIFE is not for the faint of heart and it demands of us to commit to ourselves.
What does that even mean? I’m glad you asked!
We must be our own best cheerleader.
We must encourage ourselves, support ourselves, and give ourselves those pep talks that we’ve all seen in those Hallmark after school specials (though maybe that reference ages me).
Sappy, I know. But it’s true!
Like that Chumbawamba song that always got stuck in my head after my high school dances, “I get knocked down, But I get up again, You’re never gonna keep me down.” Okay, now I’m really dating myself, but hear me out!
We must persevere, for our own sake!
We deserve that, at least. After all, no one else out there can be a better advocate and cheerleader for our dreams and our challenges than ourselves, and it doesn’t even have to be about writing, or art, or school, or work, or family, or anything outside of ourselves. It can be about the little wins: like getting a clean pair of pants on during quarantine, or getting on that exercise bike if even just to the count of 15.
Writers block. Artist block. Exercise block. Getting out of your pajamas block. All of it happens to all of us and the best way out of it is to be kind and compassionate and patient with ourselves. After all, isn’t that what you would offer those whom you encounter?
Give yourself some grace, and maybe turn on some great 90s music to remind you that you will get up again!
Learn how to get your inner critic out of the way, so you can get on your way.
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