Jenny: ‘Deep is the only direction I know how to travel.’ My dear friend, you do it so well, too. This was a brave essay, a courageous disrobing of all the armor we usually wear to keep our fears hidden. When you acknowledge your humanity like this, it invites others to do the same. On this fear, oh how I feel it: “I am afraid my own words aren’t good enough. That they will reveal I’m not good enough a writer, not good enough a human. I’m afraid that my mind isn’t sharp enough, my tongue not clever enough, my heart courageous enough. I’m afraid that my skin is just too thin for this world.” We may be soft or thin of skin but we’re sturdier than we know. From one scaredy-cat to another, let’s let our inner lioness run the show from now on, shall we? ‘Rise Up’ by Anita Day is a favorite of mine, became my anthem during the pandemic. Big hugs to you!! Keep writing your story!
‘Deep is the only direction I know how to travel’ is so great, so affirming. The Lion, the song. Thank you for the reflection and the mirror. The nudge I needed - it finds us, always.
I really related to these fears! All of them! Good for you — for us, I’ll say — for “doing the thing”! Here we are writing honestly, doing it. For me, I still worry about so many of the things you mention. That I’ll be: misunderstood, too confident, not confident enough, forgotten, be proven wrong, scoffed at, laughed at …. When I get all carried away with doubts, I think about what truly grounds me. Integrity. If I can say to myself that I know my intentions are good, that I am doing what I’m doing earnestly and honestly, and following my gut and passion — I have to try and simply rest in that. To let that be my reminder that I know who I am and I can’t control what others think. Still working on it!
Naming our fears is powerful. Out of the mind and on the page. When I started journaling after years of resisting the practice, writing down my fears and resentments in addition to my desires and gratitude list changed me physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Jenny: ‘Deep is the only direction I know how to travel.’ My dear friend, you do it so well, too. This was a brave essay, a courageous disrobing of all the armor we usually wear to keep our fears hidden. When you acknowledge your humanity like this, it invites others to do the same. On this fear, oh how I feel it: “I am afraid my own words aren’t good enough. That they will reveal I’m not good enough a writer, not good enough a human. I’m afraid that my mind isn’t sharp enough, my tongue not clever enough, my heart courageous enough. I’m afraid that my skin is just too thin for this world.” We may be soft or thin of skin but we’re sturdier than we know. From one scaredy-cat to another, let’s let our inner lioness run the show from now on, shall we? ‘Rise Up’ by Anita Day is a favorite of mine, became my anthem during the pandemic. Big hugs to you!! Keep writing your story!
‘Deep is the only direction I know how to travel’ is so great, so affirming. The Lion, the song. Thank you for the reflection and the mirror. The nudge I needed - it finds us, always.
This means so much to me. Thank you, Shaista. ❤️
I really related to these fears! All of them! Good for you — for us, I’ll say — for “doing the thing”! Here we are writing honestly, doing it. For me, I still worry about so many of the things you mention. That I’ll be: misunderstood, too confident, not confident enough, forgotten, be proven wrong, scoffed at, laughed at …. When I get all carried away with doubts, I think about what truly grounds me. Integrity. If I can say to myself that I know my intentions are good, that I am doing what I’m doing earnestly and honestly, and following my gut and passion — I have to try and simply rest in that. To let that be my reminder that I know who I am and I can’t control what others think. Still working on it!
Naming our fears is powerful. Out of the mind and on the page. When I started journaling after years of resisting the practice, writing down my fears and resentments in addition to my desires and gratitude list changed me physically, emotionally, and spiritually.