Ok, there is one more thing I’d like to share. It’s a piece from one of my favorite books, ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert. This is part of a chapter in which Liz Gilbert shares how she handles fear. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS!
Here it goes, in her words:
“Fear and creativity shared a womb. They were born at the same time and they still share some vital organs. This is why we have to be careful of how we handle our fear, because I’ve noticed that when people try to kill off their fear, they often end up murdering their creativity in the process. So I don’t try to kill off my fear. I don’t go to war against it.
Instead, I make all that space for it, heaps of space, every single day. I’m making space for fear right this moment, I allow my fear to live and breathe and stretch out its legs comfortably. It seems to me that the less I fight my fear, the less it fights back. If I can relax fear relaxes too, in fact, I cordially invite fear to come along with me everywhere I go.
I even have a welcoming speech prepared for fear, which I deliver right before embarking on any new project or big adventure. It goes something like this.
Dearest fear,
Creativity and I are about to go on a road trip together. I understand you’ll be joining us because you always do. I acknowledge that you believe you have an important job to do in my life and that you take your job seriously.
Apparently, your job is to induce complete panic, whenever I’m about to do anything interesting. And may I say you are superb at your job. So by all means, keep doing your job. If you feel you must, but I will also be doing my job on this road trip, which is to work hard and stay focused and creativity will be doing its job which is to remain stimulating and inspiring.
There’s plenty of room in this vehicle for all of us so make yourself at home. But understand this creativity and I are the only ones who will be making any decisions along the way. I recognize and respect that you are part of this family so I will never exclude you from our activities, but still, your suggestions will never be followed.
You’re allowed to have a seat, and you’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote. You’re not allowed to touch the roadmaps, you’re not allowed to suggest detours, you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature. Dude, you are not even allowed to touch the radio, but above all else, my dear old familiar friend. You’re absolutely forbidden to drive.
Then we head off together. Me and creativity and fear, side by side by side forever. Advancing once more into the terrifying but marvelous terrain of unknown outcome.”
