100 Day Creative Challenge 76: Afraid
Elizabeth Gilbert addresses fear in an extensive list of ways we may be afraid to live a more creative life in Big Magic.
You’re afraid you have no talent.
You’re afraid you’ll be rejected or criticized or ridiculed or misunderstood or—worst of all—ignored…
You’re afraid somebody else already did it better.
You’re afraid you won’t be taken seriously.
You’re afraid your work isn’t politically, emotionally, or artistically important enough to change anyone’s life.
You’re afraid your dreams are embarrassing…
You’re afraid you neglected your creativity for so long that now you can never get it back.
You’re afraid you’re too old to start…
You’re afraid because nothing has ever gone well in your life, so why bother trying?
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Doubts make us ask questions. They cause us to assess the risks and look at all the possible scenarios, but when doubts turn to fear it turns to paralysis.
Fear can be visceral. Heart palpitations, shaking, head-thumping, goose bumpy physical responses that make us freeze. ‘I can’t,’ you say.
Fear can be quiet and still. You hold your breath, make yourself as small as possible and listen to the thudding of your heart. ‘I won’t,’ you say.
Fear can be loud. You shout in anger and lash out at those around you. Or throw that manuscript against the wall.’This is crap,’ you say.
Fear can bring bring out vulnerability, shame, guilt, doubt, worry. ‘It’s not worth the risk,’ you say.
Following a creative path will cause you to fear. You can choose to let it freeze or propel you into freedom. Fear tells you to stop, but if you have something in you that needs to be released, a song, a poem, a story, music, dance—a message to the world, something beautiful to share—then feel the fear and do it anyway.
Fear has its purpose. We need it to protect ourselves from danger, however, if we let fear win over our creative purposes then it can steal our destiny.
If you’re creative you need to take risks. Remember No Risk, No Story.
Fear is boring, because fear only ever has one thing to say to us, and that thing is: “STOP!” Elizabeth Gilbert
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