Funny how just three letters can take you from Leo the lion to Eeyore the donkey. From courage to discourage, there it goes, our hope is gone in a flash. How fast life can change in a day!
It’s a path often visited by the ambitious and dream driven.
It’s the path of discouragement.
Ssshhhh…lots of successful people wouldn’t dare admit it. But it exists. In fact, one of my favorite authors Julia Cameron of Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance
And this hell we’re in. Um now how did we get here again?
Cameron says, “It takes constant vigilance not to slip into negativity, or simple apathy. It takes courage to believe over any given period of time that we are getting better and not sliding into decline. To keep on keeping on takes energy and commitment…”
So when I decided to give up all chances of being rich and famous to become a full-time writer and blog like I’m a fiend, why didn’t anyone tell me about this part?
The times when I would doubt not only my writing, but my ability to do anything!
That writing would challenge me to dig in deep, to empty out every feeling, thought, and crazy idea I’ve ever had. That it would ache when I couldn’t find anything in there (empty brain) and would feel an intense longing for approval.
I never cared about approval and doing this well when I worked in a cubicle!
But truth be told, I also didn’t know I was capable of pushing myself this far either. That I could accomplish my dreams and that I could write for art sites and stationery sites and articles about my dog. Yep, I actually got paid to do it.
So it is worth it.
But on the days when you feel lost and dis+couraged, well maybe you just need an extra boost.
Pull out those supportive friends and ask them for help, or watch happy sappy movies and be super duper kind to yourself.
You can also start with this.
Watch this dreams come true video and see if just an ounce of you feels a tiny bit better. Hearing that little girl singing, “Star light. Star bright. First star I see tonight. I wish I may. I wish I might. Have the wish I wish tonight. So make a wish and do as dreamers do. And all my wishes will come true.” I get teary-eyed and tingly inside and as crazy as it seems, I really do feel at that moment that all my childhood fantasies could come true. I know. I’m a big sap. But maybe it’ll do it for you too.
Happy Friday the 13th!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ibxCo_IGfs]
Friday, August 13th, 2010, 7:30 am | 
Facing Fears | 
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October 6, 2010 at 8:39 am
Thanks this made for interesting reading. I really like your wordpress theme!
October 7, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Thanks!