Writers, what’s the biggest obstacle holding you back?
Lack of time and too many commitments?
Your day job?
Writer’s block?
No, sorry, I don’t think so. Your biggest writing obstacle is definitely not a “what” but a WHO.
Ah, then it has to be your kids, right?
Or maybe that spouse of yours or your fabulous significant other who takes up all your time?
Nope.
Then who? Spell that “who” obstacle Y-O-U.
In reading Wayne Dyer’s Excuses Begone!: How to Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits
Writers are creative and quite capable of crafting any number of writing excuses about why we can’t write, can’t publish, can’t start writing at this “old” age, can’t possibly finish a manuscript, yadda, yadda….
If you’re not creative enough to create your own excuses (or the more likely scenario is that these excuses have become so ingrained in you that you aren’t capable of recognizing them for what they are), Wayne Dyer’s book lists 18 common excuses plus the affirmations to counteract them. I’m sure you’ll find one that fits you.
For instance, if your excuse is “It will be difficult” (it’s too hard to write a book, it’s too hard to submit work, it’s too hard to put myself out there, etc.), he suggests replacing the excuse with this affirmation: “I have the ability to accomplish any task I set my mind to with ease and comfort.”
If you realize that you’re the one standing in your own way, check out this Ray Bradbury video I discovered in my work with fearful flyers. Fear is fear whether it’s fear of flying, fear of writing a book or an article, fear of publishing, fear of submitting, whatever. Excuses and other obstacles standing in our way likely originate in fear.
Fear keeps us from moving forward to be all we can be, to go where we’re supposed to go, to do what we’re meant to do. In the video Ray Bradbury realizes the choke-hold that fear had on him, and he shares his wise realization: He was the one standing in his own way.
Are you?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Fear has definitely been holding me back! Fear of failure specifically so I haven’t been trying. But that’s going to change this year!
Thanks again for all your help on She Writes!
Fear is definitely an obstacle, Andrea! But I’ve learned that we always have two choices: to react in fear or act in love. When you love yourself and believe in your “enoughness” and know in your bones that you are worthy, then you can make choices that acknowledge that love and act accordingly. Your love will help your fear to evaporate.
For instance, if you love writing and believe in yourself and your worth as someone who has valuable things to say, then take one small step to honor you and what you love to write. Then, take another small step through your fear. Surely you can do this!! Good luck on your writing journey.