How I Overcame the 2 Greatest Fears and Started Writing.
I endlessly scrolled through articles for three long months feeling inspired yet strangely unproductive.
I wanted to write, but somehow the words never seemed to make it from my head to the page. But then something changed — a spark of inspiration pushed me to put pen to paper finally.
Do you want to know more about that little spark?
It isn’t something magical, but it was nothing less than magic.
There came a time when at least three of every five posts I read prompted me to start writing. I read from the same writers daily, but not many such articles existed before that.
Top writers can write about anything they are skilled at, including writing, but so many posts with the same takeaways finally pushed me to the edge.
When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready… The teacher will Disappear.
― Tao Te Ching
Once I started writing, there were fewer posts about the importance of taking the first step. Things took a 360, and now all the suggested posts are about daily writing habits and tips to improve writing.
To improve my writing habit, I have read many posts, which might have made the algorithm suggest me more such posts. However, I haven’t stopped reading from the creators that got me started, and their latest posts don’t match the description of a “leap of faith.”
The world is mystical, and we don’t understand it thoroughly, but that does not mean it won’t help us. It is a teacher that won’t stop giving you prompts to see you take action.
The importance of starting
Now, cutting down on all the shiny talk…
You have to get out of your way to make it work. Simple.
Your mind will automatically start looking for solutions when a problem appears. It’s like an itch that draws your attention until you calm it down.
Whether you want to start writing or something else, you’ll begin receiving prompts from the world, which your mind picks up on. It will present you with possible solutions to your itch, but it’s still up to you to take action.
Generally, there is a tipping point when your brain has enough solutions, and the vote count becomes too high to start rather than stalk.
That’s when your mind will TRY to suppress the fear and help you take action.
Overcoming your fears
The fear of taking the first step is prevalent in everyone.
We have been conditioned to fear because taking some steps might make us an outcast from society, and there’s nothing more important to us human beasts than acceptance.
The fear of taking action might feel necessary, but it’s unnecessary, and most people never get to the other side.
Here comes our next candidate: The fear of failure.
Nobody likes to fall flat on their face. It is one of the reasons why many people who are good at something never share it with the outside world.
What if the others don’t like it? 8 billion people on this planet, and you tell me that no one would be interested? You will get rejected for sure, but that doesn’t mean you should never take the step.
Take the first step because it’s a giant leap, as only a handful of others are ready to take it.
Keep your motivation ready
When you start, you need motivation for a while because you are about to do something you have never done.
The days will feel difficult too, and that’s where you need your motivation to push through.
Motivation can be in the form of cheat-day meals to lure gym newbies. People who have been in the workout game long enough know there is no need for cheat days, and most of them would eat in a way that supports their bodies.
You can’t tell newbies about the evil influence of junk and processed food because they’ll start running for their lives. They must take enough time to understand that junk food won’t help them get the body they want.
The power of persistence
This is where the last one-standing battle begins. We think the war is between us and others, but it is a battle that rages inside us.
It is a war between the:
I am not good enough vs. I am going to show up until I get good enough
Complacency vs. Discipline
Taking the easy way out vs. Taking on complex challenges to improve yourself
It is an everyday process that you must keep performing until the end. There’s no chance you will become the best at something because the modern world moves at a pace that’s too fast for us to handle.
The point to remember is:
All you have to do is keep showing up for long enough.
Final Thoughts
Taking the first step is essentially the most important and challenging at the same time.
You have to condition yourself to be uncomfortable at the start. That little embarrassment is necessary to face your fears. Keep your motivation beside you so you don’t run away as you level up and the challenges become tough.
Your persistence will decide whether you become better than others or give up. It takes time.
Don’t forget this one thing; it will stem from you and not others.
Thank you for reading this article and remember patience is a virtue.
