It’s no secret I’m a fan of the book You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. I’ve written about it on The Muffin and my own blog before, but today I want to talk about a particular idea that the author presents which I think pertains to most writers--even non-writers--but especially me. Here's the quote from the book (on the daily calendar page from a couple years ago. I like this quote so much I saved this and posted it on my bulletin board.):
Break on through to the other side!
Won't you come with me?
When I read this section the first time in the book, it was an "a-ha" moment for me. I feel uncomfortable all the time--I don't know if it's more or less than any other human being, but uneasy feelings can happen to me when I'm writing something new (a women's fiction manuscript), when I'm taking advantage of a new opportunity (opening a publishing company), when I'm attempting a new skill (listing books on Ingram Spark to be sold through other stores besides Amazon), and even in my personal life (going on a first date, cleaning out my parents' house, or booking a vacation to a new place for me and Katie).
In the past, sometimes, that uncomfortable feeling has made me give up and go back to my old ways. The "rallying cry to retreat," as Sincero so eloquently writes, has told me: "Margo, you don't really want to go on that date or be self-published or try a new genre. You are fine just the way you are."
But now I know that uncomfortable feeling is actually wonderful--it's the signal that something fantastic is just beyond my reach. If I keep persevering, I will eventually reach my goal on the other side. Not only will I reach my goal, but I may even reach a better place after that first goal and continue to climb and climb.
Of course, there will be haters, doubters, and people who say that you were right the first time. Your gut is warning you not to push through whatever hard thing you are trying and that you should definitely retreat and stay in your safe box.
I'm sorry, but those people are WRONG. They may love you, or they may want to sabotage you. But if you read about any person who has achieved great things or worked toward their goals and accomplished them, you will see a pattern: successful people wanting to quit or maybe even quitting, and then somehow pushing through and picking back up the pieces, creating a wonderful life with a little bit of tape and a few new scars.
So the next time you find yourself at "the magical door to the other side," please push on through. Reach out to us here at WOW! if you need support--on our Facebook page or here on this blog--and let us know what's giving you that uncomfortable feeling. We will encourage you to push right on through to success!
Margo--In my former life as a quilter (now I'm a knitter), I remember one nationally known quilter say, "When you're green, you're growing," meaning when you're inexperienced and making mistakes, that just means you're expanding your skillset, you're improving, you're working on getting better.
ReplyDeleteI am SURE your publishing business is going to be successful... and if you don't take risks with a first date, or a new vacation spot, you'll be plagued (decades from now) with "What if...?" and it'll be too late to ask for a do-over. Do it now. Push through now.
Thanks for this inspiring post Margo.
ReplyDeleteYep, sounds exactly right. :-)
ReplyDeleteAmen! So much truth in this post. If we always do what is easy, what feels safe, how will we know what we can accomplish?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ladies! Here's to pushing on through. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ladies! Here's to pushing on through. :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you. I feel so uncomfortable 75 percent of the time these days. It's starting to worry me! Between constantly being uncomfortable with my job responsibilities for my day job as a magazine editor and trying to figure out how to fit in my podcasting side hustle, I'm terrified! Thank you for sharing Jen's encouragement to keep going.
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