Awesome article, Meta. I tell myself something I heard somewhere that it's wise to put yourself inside discomfort, or discomfort will find you and you'll be ill-prepared. The vulnerability of sharing my writings really puts this idea to the test for me. The more I can maintain the feeling versus the idea of being happy and at peace with or without external success for my creative projects, the less the fears drive me. I'm definitely a work-in-progress!
Renee, I like what you're saying here: discomfort's inevitably going to be part of our lives one way or another, so why not actively take some of it on (we're in control) rather than be a "victim" of it? Great way of thinking about it - thank you!
Yup, I completely agree with reframing as a good way forward, and a good way around one's fears. In a much-loved rowing documentary, a coach explains how, when she and her teammate were training, the teammate would often say if there's choppy water in the [Charles River] Basin, then that's the day we need to go to the Basin. In fact, she would elaborate, we -need- the choppy Basin in order to succeed. I always think of this particular reframing, not only in my athletic pursuits but in my writing life. If an obstacle, or a sheer dread, presents itself in front of you, find a way that you -need- that obstacle. It's not a question of avoiding it. It's a question of working with/around it, and getting better at the thing you're trying to achieve.
Agree. I remember being on the rowing team in college and realizing the choppy days, though miserable, gave us the strength mentally to fly on the glossy calm waters.
Reframing, as you so well say, is the antidote to fear. Thinking about how you think is the first step in understanding and only then can you change reframe the thoughts that hold you back from your dreams.
Awesome article, Meta. I tell myself something I heard somewhere that it's wise to put yourself inside discomfort, or discomfort will find you and you'll be ill-prepared. The vulnerability of sharing my writings really puts this idea to the test for me. The more I can maintain the feeling versus the idea of being happy and at peace with or without external success for my creative projects, the less the fears drive me. I'm definitely a work-in-progress!
Renee, I like what you're saying here: discomfort's inevitably going to be part of our lives one way or another, so why not actively take some of it on (we're in control) rather than be a "victim" of it? Great way of thinking about it - thank you!
Yup, I completely agree with reframing as a good way forward, and a good way around one's fears. In a much-loved rowing documentary, a coach explains how, when she and her teammate were training, the teammate would often say if there's choppy water in the [Charles River] Basin, then that's the day we need to go to the Basin. In fact, she would elaborate, we -need- the choppy Basin in order to succeed. I always think of this particular reframing, not only in my athletic pursuits but in my writing life. If an obstacle, or a sheer dread, presents itself in front of you, find a way that you -need- that obstacle. It's not a question of avoiding it. It's a question of working with/around it, and getting better at the thing you're trying to achieve.
Agree. I remember being on the rowing team in college and realizing the choppy days, though miserable, gave us the strength mentally to fly on the glossy calm waters.
The insights you bring from the rowing (and skiing) worlds are always spot on. Can't wait to see your next letter!
Reframing, as you so well say, is the antidote to fear. Thinking about how you think is the first step in understanding and only then can you change reframe the thoughts that hold you back from your dreams.
It's incredible how often we're not aware of our thought patterns and how they get in the way, isn't it!