By Cindy R. Williams
It is only the view from where you sit that makes you feel defeat.
Life is full of many aisles so why don't you change your seat?
Time for me to pick a new seat. The seat I have been sitting in is growing hard and stuffy. I have been reading about writing successes. Of course I am happy for these great successes and they inspire me. But from where I am currently sitting, I feel bogged down. I get these silly thoughts jumping in and out of my subconscious like; I could never do that, they write so much better than me, or they are just lucky. I might as well just give up. I don't know if I can find the time, to make what they have done happen for me. Discouraging thoughts can zap all of our creativity in no time.
Then that burning desire to hop back into my latest project pushes those thoughts back out into outer darkness right where they belong, and back to work I go. I change my view and pick another seat.
Why is it human nature to compare ourselves to others? It seems to be akin to being hard on ourselves. Isn't is so much better to learn from others, and follow good examples? The greatest example of all is Christ. Yet it would be ridiculous to compare ourselves to Christ. So why would we want to compare ourselves with anyone anyway? There is no comparison. We are unique, and there is a place for each of us. The world has need of our voices. Each and every one of us.
I will keep writing. I quite like this new seat I have chosen. It is a comfortable, overstuffed, love seat, that helps my imagination fly. I think I'll snuggle in and have some fun!
What a great metaphor. I think I'm going to get myself a seat just like yours! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love this, Cindy! Even after publishing Loyalty's Web and having a "spin-off" coming out this year, it's so easy to tell myself, "Sure, but those were both flukes. I can't write like that anymore!" Self-doubt can become absolutely paralyzing if we let it. Sounds like I need to change my seat, too!
ReplyDeleteI love this! What a great post. I'm glad I'm not the only one who hears those naggy voices that bring me to my knees.
ReplyDeleteI have to tell them to shut up, and now I can incorporate into that picture me getting up and changing seats, as if I'm physically moving away from them.
LOVE IT!
Thanks!
How wonderful to know others feel like this too. Writers write alone, and we have to beat our own demons. Thanks all!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Cindy! I love the analogy. I, too, am guilty of that comparison thing. I had an exciting idea the other day...spent several hours trying to flesh it out...then saw something someone else had done...not the same...but the same message and I thought: What makes me think I can say it any better? Hmmm...maybe I'll keep working on it!
ReplyDeleteYep Cindy you hit the nail on the head here. I too get caught up in the comparing myself to others which never really works to my advantage, ha.
ReplyDelete