Living the Dream

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. ~~~~ Les Brown

I was told by a good friend recently that everyone feels fear when taking on a new challenge. Some simply acknowledge the trembling spark and push it aside, as they have always done. For others, the emotion is overwhelming—a single flame threatens to extinguish our carefully built foundation.

Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it. ~~~ Arthur Ashe


I realized that I experience that tremor every day when I pick up my writing.

"It's a rush of expectation," I whisper to myself. "Adrenalin and anticipation."

For actors, it's called stage fright, and for those players there's no question about its legitimacy. After all, they're stepping out on stage in front of a crowd of strangers! No wonder they're quaking a bit in their boots.

But isn't that what we're all doing? Playing to a crowd whose faces we'll never see, hoping for a sign of approval that assures us that our performance rings true?

Fear can't hold a candle to unswerving faith, much less muster up the guts to even attempt to blow it out. ~~~ B.G. Jett

This is where faith comes in. We must hold true to our vision, despite the tremors and nail biting. We must have courage and faith to move forward despite the stage fright that overwhelms us from time to time.

Ah… but then we think to ourselves… "Fine. I'll take action. In a little while. First I have these very, very important things to attend to which will conveniently allow me to avoid facing that fear for a little while longer." HAH!

Uh-oh. *grin*

You cannot run away from weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand? ~~~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Why not now? The fear is like the dirty dishes piling up in the sink. At first, just a plate or two, a few bowls, some glasses and a cup. The longer you wait, the more overwhelming it gets. Tackle the fear one word at a time. We dare not let it build up until the pile of procrastination threatens to spill over.

One word at a time. One sentence at a time. One page, one chapter, one book.
That's what it takes to be a writer. Live the dream and write the damn book!

*smile*

Have a great writing week, and remember We Are Writers!

--Chiron O'Keefe