How do you feel when someone tells you to share your story? The majority of us panic and become anxious. Heartbeats quicken to twice the pace, faces break out in cold sweat, bodies tremble with fear.
Creating this blog has been a dream of mine for quite some time now. Although I knew how much fun it could be to share my thoughts with the world, it was actually really tough to gather up the courage to start writing. In all honesty it was due to the fact that I constantly compared my ability to write with everyone else’s ability to write and soon I found myself not writing at all.
Throughout this time, there was only one enemy that actually kept popping up over and over again, every time in a different form than the last. This enemy was determined and relentless and eventually I had no choice but to either confront it or forever commit to a life of running.
Finally, in a moment of absolute clarity, I decided to confront it. His name was fear. There were certain ways in which he tried to knock me down. Eventually, I fought back.. This is how I did it.
1. Too Many Ideas
Over time, I suddenly became overwhelmed with too many ideas. This may sound like a good thing but in actual fact it caused a lot more harm than you would think. As a result of this, I would start to move from one idea to the other, never being able to finish a single one.
Stop running from idea to idea. Commit to something and focus on it!
2. Holding Back
When I started generating some kind of idea on what I would like to talk about, I found myself running out of things to actually write. I became scared to put my thoughts into words.
“What if people cannot relate?”
“What if I embarrass myself?”
“What if I am not good enough at this?”
This self-talk is a serious mood killer.
Never be afraid to be you! Turn the little flame that you have, into a wildfire. Be authentic. Be real.
3. Someone Already Beat me to it…
There are so many people who have started really great blogs. I read them all the time and think, “How on earth can I ever be as great as that?” It really started bothering me and it actually made me doubt myself more and more.
The one thing that makes us original is our personal story. What our journey looks like is completely different to that of someone else. Embrace it.
Over this period, I really learnt a lot about becoming patient and I fixated on what I am rather than what I am not. No other person on this Earth knows my story better than I do. My journey is by no means a way of trying to convince anyone on how to live their life nor is it to pressurize anyone to make specific decisions for themselves. I am just sharing with others about what I have learnt and will continue to learn in the years to come. I wish to model a life of gratitude and I really believe that this is one way of doing it.
So this is it. I am so excited to officially publish my very first blog post with you! May these posts bless you and affirm you in believing that you are not alone!
Our stories do not have to be spoken in a crowded room or over a speaker but can even simply arise during a conversation over a cup of coffee at your favourite coffee shop.
Don’t be afraid to share the story of your life with others. You may never know what an impact your story could have on someone else’s life.
Great first post, Candice! Very proud of you for pursuing your dreams and “inspighering” and helping others. Keep up the good work!
So happy that you are finally doing this. Have fun as you begin this journey of inspiration and encouragement..