Battling our limitations and releasing our fears

So What? The best advice I've heard recently from the book, Stop Checking Your Likes by Susie Moore. I've only just begun listening to it, but her story about "So what" had me thinking: I must start this practice in my own life. 

Here's the deal. Susie had an urge to check her comments on YouTube. What resulted from that was reading a nasty comment from a troll. Upset, she called her good friend. She explained the situation, and when she asked her friend her thoughts. The friend replied: So what? At first, I got caught off guard. Did the friend really say that? But what happened next changed my whole perspective. The friend laid it out clear: who cares what someone thinks of you. Move on. Continue the work. Blinders on.

Yes, we all know this but do we PRACTICE it? 

Like the majority of people, I too can suffer from bouts of fear. Fear that whatever I'm working on has to be perfect before release. Fear of what others might say or think. Fear that I or it won't be good enough. I didn't always have this fear. If I think about some of my biggest triumphs, or adventures, I was far from caring about what anyone would think of me. Instead, I was in the flow. Blinders on, ready to fly, and have some fun.

So what happened? How did I get to the place where I started holding my art closer to the vest like Gollum with precious. I found myself stopping to try new things. I coupled being a beginner with awkwardness. Life happened—moments with trolls IRL and moments with trolls online. We've all had a troll cross our path. If not an actual person, then one of the three evil villains of our times: the comparison game, ghosting, and FOMO. 

The good news is we can ask ourselves, So what? That question strips the power and fears away immediately. We're able to see that what we might be feeling as a paralyzing fear isn't that big of a deal. Most like you've already conquered much heavier, unexpected situations before. I know I have. So why wait? Why not go out balls to the wall and do the things you want to do? As Madonna would say, EXPRESS YOURSELF. 

Since locked down started, I've found so much of my art, photography, and music locked away. I tricked myself into thinking that I was still working on the project, or I needed it to be just right before posting. None of that benefited me or anyone around me. I needed that phrase, “So what?” more than ever. I had to get out of my head and kick fear to the curb. 

So I tested it out, and I immediately began to laugh. My stress lifted. I remembered who I was. Before COVID, before the last job, before the trolls. I remembered I came here to experience this life, not hide away from it. 

You're probably asking: is it this easy to let go? Yes, I know it is because I am living it. 

Creative play isn't just something I suggest for my clients as a way to let go and be in the flow of creation. I, too, make sure I practice what I preach. 

If we take the challenges and break our limitations, that is true freedom. Kick whatever plagues you to the curb. If you can't dive all in, then put your toe into the water. Navigate it and find those that support you. Doing so will help you practice the release. Help you build your confidence. LeBron, Picasso, Beyonce, Oprah, didn’t get where they are today by letting a troll keep them down. It’s crucial to practice your creative play.

Don't miss out on sharing your gifts with the world. It might just be the light that someone is looking for at that moment. To make sure I’m walking my talk, I’ll be sharing some of my work. I’m currently in the thick of practicing collage and drawing. Allowing myself an hour a day to just free flow. It’s been good for my soul. A small investment that reaps big rewards.

If you like this post and are interested in a coaching session, reach out here via email. It’s never too late to dive into your limitless self.