How does one begin a blog? Is it like walking into that sweet, little pastry shop on the corner and saying,
"Yes, today I think I shall have the chocolate eclair with my oat milk chai! Excellent suggestion, kind sir!"
Or is it more like months and even years of tossing the idea around in your head...
"Should I get a dog? I want a dog. Dogs are adorbs and fun and will bring me oodles of joy! And I get to name the dog anything I want! But, aren't they, like, a lot of work? How do I even take care of a dog? They're kind of like tiny, forever, fluff babies! And I want to be the best fluff baby mom around! But will I be? Oh no, maybe I shouldn't get a dog just yet! I'll think about it for approximately 3.5 more years. Then another 5ish months after that. OR maybe I should just do it!"
I'm 1000% like the second example. It's taken me a while to get here, even with YEARS as a full-time writer and overthinker. And really, if you don't overthink absolutely everything on Planet Earth are you EVEN a writer?
What's behind all of this internal malarkey? Could it be...
Perfectionist tendencies
Fear of failure
Fear of not being seen
Fear of being seen
Fear of embarrassing yourself: like this hasn't been done before...by me especially!
Procrastination: one of my favorite things!
Comparison to others
Lack of ideas
Lack of energy
Lack of coffee
Too hungry to write
Too full to write
Your dog is staring at you
You're staring at your dog
Thinking you have all the time in the world to start a blog
Thinking you have no time in the world to start a blog!
Tech issues: another one I get a prize for!
Some of us cute, lil' humans can be too hard on ourselves. I get it. I could be the poster girl for self-doubt, indecisiveness, and maybe-I-should've-done-that-whole-thing-differently. They're some of my finest strengths, I dare say!
One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite Coldplay songs, "Fix You," says:
"But if you never try, you'll never know just what you're worth." -Coldplay
That line always inspires me. I can get on board with that line! Tears metaphorically stream down my face just thinking of the power of those words. This is because I'm a big believer in believing in your own beautiful worth. Yes, reader, your worth is beautiful! I see you blushing over there!
You might be saying, "Yeah, thanks, but what of this stream-of-consciousness, woman? My soup is getting cold."
Okay, I hear ya. (And soup sounds really good right now.)
Your goals and dreams are worthy. And you're worthy of them. It can sometimes take us a while to get there, and that's okay. Just wanted you to know you're not alone. Just wanted you to know seasoned writers and artists second-guess themselves, too. (We're literally pros at it!) Just wanted you to know that if you've ever thought of creating art, then you have something unique to contribute.
The thinking AND overthinking is all part of the creative process. And if that's making you think, then you're doing it right.
ALSO: Happy Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays!
Hope you feel inspired and renewed.
Hope there's peace in your corner of the world.
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