010 - Guts Over Fear

Bravery Is To Be Strong & Silent. So Take Time To Build

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Bravery Is To Be Strong & Silent. So Take Time To Build

Welcome to the Editor’s Journal; A daily thought on writing, the creative process, art, work, the world and how it all goes together. Every morning I rise between 5 and 6 am, I sit here in the quiet of my kitchen and I write whatever’s prominent. I have a bunch of article ideas saved, so I’ll either pull from them or write something new. I also write at larrygmaguire.com. I hope you enjoy the read.

A couple years back I had an idea. I was compelled to make it happen.

But when it came out that I was going to attempt it, it didn’t sit well with those closest to me.

In fact there was a ton of resistance to it and my biggest mistake was I made the support of those people vital to my success.

When I didn’t get that support I failed.

There were successes over the course of it, absolutely, but from my selfish perspective I failed to achieve my goal.

Eventually I did get support from the one’s I loved, they came around, but there was always something missing. It was never a case of two feet in with me.

There’s still a slight pang of disappointment on my part but it was of my own making.

I didn’t keep it quiet for long enough while I planned. So in that regard I learned something very important.

The Artist’s Manifesto is a short book about staying true to our art. It is a call to Artists and Creatives like you to create from the heart with passion and integrity, disregarding the need for applause and recognition. It’s available from 13th May 2017. Grab your FREE copy here.

Why Can’t They See?

Not everyone will see your dream.

When we’ve got something new, like a new idea for a business, to travel the world or begin a new career, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to stay schtum.

Say nothing, keep it under our hat.

The excitement of it feels uncontrollable, you can’t wait to share it. Only when you do it’s received with less than enthusiastically.

You will find some people who like the idea, some will even congratulate you and encourage you. But for the most part your new found notions of adventure go down like a lead balloon.

Unfortunately your enthusiasm and initiative to begin and overall energy for it isn’t far behind.

You drop it like a stone. It’s not worth the effort. Everyone says it’s not going to work. I can’t do it.

What’s going on?

Can’t they see what you can see?

Do the people close to you not want you to be happy?

Why are they throwing cold water on your brilliant idea?

Fear

Bottom line is fear.

Everyone has it. You have it too in various guises.

The one’s who love you fear your loss. They care for you sure, but they are deeply afraid that you’ll fail or that you’ll succeed and leave them behind.

Regardless of whether you win or lose other people’s anxiety is all about them. How they feel as a result of your success or failure is paramount for them.

We all possess an irrational mind, fearing things that have not happened yet.

That mindset can be very compelling and if you don’t have people who support you in your new venture you’ll soon be infected by this irrational state of mind too.

If you listen to the discouragement you’ll fail before you start, and even if their voices are loud in your mind and you do start, you’ll likely fail.

Fears are nothing more than a state of mind. - Napoleon Hill

Protecting Your New Idea

Everything anyone ever does is for one reason only; self fulfillment.

This includes the worst atrocities ever carried out by one human on another, or the most benevolent.

People do things to either move closer to what they want or away from what they don’t. So no matter how close you are to them, they can often be willing to sacrifice their relationship with you.

When you see this you can move forward without their consent.

But you’ve got to be brave.

You’ve got to choose guts over fear.

When You Get A New Idea, Keep It To Yourself.

Just like the tomatoes I’m growing in the window in my kitchen, your ideas need time to grow, to take on some momentum and become stronger, more resilient.

Until your ideas reach a degree of maturity it’s best to keep them under you hat. Build out your idea privately for a while. Create a business plan if that’s what you need to do.

But above all you’ve got to practice and develop it before showing the world.

There’s a time for show and tell, but right now it not that time.

Your art, your creative work needs a period in the nursery to get stronger. After a while you’ll have built the thing to a point where others will begin to see it and believe it.

They need proof you see.

You don’t. You know the feeling is right so follow it.

Find Your Tribe

So if you’re branching out on your own, starting a business or launching your art into the world, find others like you.

Seek out support.

Spend time with people who see what you see and feel the energy of what you’re doing.

Find your tribe and get energy from them, they will be your greatest ally.

Drawing you along, feeding your enthusiasm, showing your your weaknesses, helping you master your art.

The Artist’s Manifesto is a short book about staying true to our art. It is a call to Artists and Creatives like you to create from the heart with passion and integrity, disregarding the need for applause and recognition. It’s available from 13th May 2017. Grab your FREE copy here.

Like Some More of This Kind of Thing?

Howdy, I’m Larry, Writer & Artist. Thanks for taking the time to read my stuff. I write about art & creativity. When I’m not doing that I write short stories about the ordinary lives of people and the challenges they face. My stuff can be edgy, hard hitting, and sometimes controversial, but never contrived. If that’s your bag you can Sign-up To Sunday Letters Here.