I launched the sixth issue of Sunday| Mag this morning. I’m proud of this one. Check it out if you haven’t yet.
I’ve found, though, that I get super nervous each month. On the last day of the month, when I’m putting all the pieces together, I start panicking. What if people don’t like the issue? What if people find out I’m actually a fraud? What if all my advertisers pull out because they discover I’m a chump?
These are all real fears. It keeps me up at night. Do you experience similar fears when you create? Do they keep you up at night – worrying what people will think about you?
Well I’m learning this: the fears don’t go away. I’m nervous each month. In fact, the more subscribers I have, the bigger the fear becomes. Instead of 100 people that could potentially hate me, I now have 3,600. That’s a lot of hate coming my way if my fears manifest themselves.
No, the fears don’t go away. But I’m learning I can’t let this hold me back. I must power through the fear. Because bravery isn’t the absence of fear. Bravery is the willingness to act in spite of fear. And I choose to act, even when my palms are sweaty.
The world needs brave artists. There’s far too much safe art. Safe art is the art you keep hidden in that shoebox. It’s that art you keep buried in your computer’s file system. I’m talking about the art you’re afraid to show people – the art you know people will hate. It only becomes brave art when it sees the light of day.
I want to encourage you, get some bravery brewing in your artists’ heart. Step out there. Let your fear propel you to greatness rather than harnessing you to the shadows of obscurity. Create in spite of fear. Be brave.
I can really relate to your post especially when I was much younger I freaked out about the mere thought of criticism. Now that I am older (and maybe a tad wiser…?) I realize that people are gonna do and think what they think. Sometimes there is just no rhyme or reason and mainly- truly- it us none of my business what they think of me. If I am able to suspend my own judgement toward others I am less inclined to care about their opinion. This is hard stuff for most everyone. A huge topic!
I love this quote by Vernon Howard.
“Nature never duplicates a path.” God made us all unique. Every bird and flower. So why should we care if we are criticised.
I can really relate to your post especially when I was much younger I freaked out about the mere thought of criticism. Now that I am older (and maybe a tad wiser…?) I realize that people are gonna do and think what they think. Sometimes there is just no rhyme or reason and mainly- truly- it us none of my business what they think of me. If I am able to suspend my own judgement toward others I am less inclined to care about their opinion. This is hard stuff for most everyone. A huge topic!
I love this quote by Vernon Howard.
“Nature never duplicates a path.” God made us all unique. Every bird and flower. So why should we care if we are criticised.
Good stuff. 🙂 I have this piece I’ve been writing in my head…maybe I’ll be brave and write it with my keyboard. And even hit publish.
Good stuff. 🙂 I have this piece I’ve been writing in my head…maybe I’ll be brave and write it with my keyboard. And even hit publish.