Stay Afraid, but Do It Anyway

One of my favorites quotes goes like this:

Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. Just do it and the confidence will follow. – Carrie Fisher

Photo by Sammie Vasquez on Unsplash

Every day I’m working on being this version of myself. A person unafraid to think and do things outside of my comfort zone. I hold on to the above quote when I feel self-doubt or that churning in my stomach. It’s okay to be afraid, just do it anyway.

And every time I’ve done this, I’ve come out unscathed on the other side.

#livemorefearless

Taking the Leap

I did it.

I can finally say, I did it.

My dream is playing out before my eyes. I have a published book. Look at it. Isn’t it beautiful?

After many aborted starts, taking classes, seeking knowledge, soaking up advice, and overcoming obstacles (mental and monetary), I put it out there. Continue reading “Taking the Leap”

Mental Toughness

Taken outside Bond 45 @ Potomac National Harbor
Taken outside Bond 45 @ Potomac National Harbor

I’ve been exercising for eight months and I have a consistent routine.  If I have to miss a session because of a conflict (work, family, illness, etc.) I obsess over what I am missing.

I wish I could say the same about my writing.  I know I should write something daily.  I have a novel to edit, several short stories in various stages on completion and this blog.  But  when I fail to take advantage of writing time, I can easily shrug it off with the promise to write tomorrow.  I’ve been waiting on tomorrow for almost a year now.

I’ve been doing some soul-searching (again).  Really trying to get to source of my inability to completely pursue a dream I know that I want.  I’ve been writing since grade school.  I would like to make it my career.  All I have to do is put pen to paper, edit, revise and edit some more.  I need to send my work out into the world.

What is stopping me you may ask.  (Nosy, that.)  I keep coming back to one world.  Fear.  But it’s not fear of failure that is paralyzing.  It is fear of success.

As humans, we operate on a set routine.  We take comfort in the familiar.  Venturing off a planned and previously executed course is uncomfortable.  The “unknown” and whatnot.  Yet people take that step toward their goals everyday.  They push past the discomfort and leap without fear.  That’s what I have to do.  Exercise some mental toughness and do something different.

My  body has gotten stronger due to my work in the gym.  Now I have to summon the mental toughness to blast through the fear and write.  Today is a good start.