What if it all works out?

 

I start my morning with a tab on my phone called "daily life" it is filled with apps that help me set my intention for the day. It's mostly daily quotes, scripture and a place for me to keep a few of my own brief thoughts on the day.  Trying to be more consistent I started this ritual in 2021. I will have to admit my consistency has had its ebb and flows but it does help promote a positive attitude and I feel like I'm better equipped for the day when I start with these affirmations and a good dose of educated reading, opposed to instantly opening my email,  social media or turning to the negative tones that all news sources take now days. 

As I have made it a point to blog and journal this month I'm finding that so many beautiful minds have already said so many profound statements that most days my own words can not out shine. One of those profound authors is Elizabeth Gilbert as I just finished  reading her book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. Gilbert is enlightening in her definition and thoughts on the connection between humans and the mysterious aura of inspiration. Her book is an easy read and I found myself having Julia Roberts narrate the book in my head as I did when I picked up her most famous memoir Eat, Pray, Love. 

Creativity to me is allowing your imagination to transform to a sharable form, whether that be by word, song, art or even a product or service. 

Having the courage to allow others to judge and criticize your thoughts and work takes a lot of vulnerability, grit and time. I for one find myself only sharing my creativity when I think it is complete enough to stand without being over criticized and even then I see flaw after flaw in the work so there are numerous times I simply stop short of sharing with others or abandon the work because in my mind I simply do not have the energy to defend my errors to myself or others. 

A quote from the book states: "Your fear will always be triggered by your creativity because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcome, and fear hates uncertain outcome." 

Fear for me comes in a multitude of forms.  There's the scary butterflies of extending out of your comfort zone to try something new or achieve something big, the scary thoughts of failure or not reaching my goals. And there are the scary tracks that play on auto repeat through my head, ingrained deep, following me around in the shadows ready to emerge. But finding or moreover, not finding time to grow my ideas, creativity and talents is possibly the most scariest thought of all. 

Gilbert says "Creativity is a path for the brave not the fearless." She goes on to state "make space for fear because you can't kill it but you can kill creativity." In her words "let fear come along for the ride, just never let it drive." 

A second book I have just started is Soundracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff. He too talks about fear and how overthinking is fear stealing our time, creativity and goals costing us both money and productivity. He goes on to say if we can change our soundtracks into positive thoughts we can change our actions and our life. 

It reminds me of a quote, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" But what if we change the mindset and turn that thought to how do you know you have reached our peak, the summit of our talents if we haven't failed? I have a loved one who suffers from high anxiety, when faced with a difficult situation I will say to them, "what if it all works out?" In that moment as an onlooker it is easy for me to add that dialogue but I'm challenging myself, my creativity and yes the fear to start each morning with "what if it all works out, what's next in my creative journey?" 

 

Keep Living in Grace,

Michele