I know that I am not alone when a voice enters my mind that tells me, "What if you fail?" I think it happens to almost all of us. I see this voice as our ego's base intention to try to tell us that we are not good enough, and when this voice arises, I combat it.
There is something very empowering about not letting the voice that tells you that you are going to fail control you. The moment you choose not to listen to it, is the moment it is no longer in control.
So how do I personally combat this voice until it no longer controls me? It is not by simply ignoring it and pretending that it doesn't exist. It is by listening to it, acknowledging it, and then telling that thought that it has no control over me and the decisions I am going to make over my life.
Eventually this leads to me countering back at that part of me that is uncertain, and for every "I don't know if this is right for me. What if nothing becomes of it? Am I really meant to be a writer? What if I never finish?" I respond with, "I am worthy of a better life where I do what I love and nothing is going to stop me. Not the opinions of others, not even the opinions of my own mind which try to limit me. I deserve to make a living doing what I love. I love myself enough to succeed."
I know, super cheesy stuff you hear time and time again meant to make your life better by teaching you how to think positively. I know I gave away all my books with that kind of teaching in them and it wasn't until I got sick, very sick, and lived through it all that I decided I deserved the best possible life that I could give myself. I empowered myself to drive forward towards what I what considered an unobtainable dream, deciding for good that nothing is impossible.
A year later I have finished my first novel and started two more with more than one short story going on the side. Deep into querying agents at this time of year, I have told myself I am going to make it. The right agent will pick up the book and send it to the right editor and the right publisher. From there it will land into the hands of the right readers and everything I have ever told myself about being successful will become a reality. This is the mindset that I have towards publication and my writing.
Fear of failure is not an option for me. When rejections come, I look at the feedback, I make the manuscript edits, and I thank every person which crosses my path which will ultimately lead me to the right person for my book. Nothing is taken personally, but as an opportunity for growth so that when the manuscript is ready it will fall into the right path. I have complete faith and trust in the whole process.
So how do I combat fear of failure? By remaining steadily and unwaveringly positive. I almost died so that I could live again. Failure is not an option. The only option is to succeed. That is the mindset that I hold onto every day.
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