Karla Oceanak
The best social is the ice cream kind.
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The fear of getting started

4/2/2013

11 Comments

 
Picture
Overcoming fear can create magic.
I've had "start a blog" on my to-do list for...years, probably. Before I started writing the Aldo Zelnick series, I also had "write a children's book" on my to-do list for an embarrassing number of years.

In both cases, the biggest hurdle between me and the doing of those things wasn't busyness. Sure I was busy...but busyness is like a gas...it dissipates or condenses as needed to make your days seem full regardless. No, the biggest hurdle was fear.

In their excellent book Art & Fear, which I highly recommend, David Bayle and Ted Orland write:

“To require perfection is to invite paralysis. The pattern is predictable: as you see error in what you have done, you steer your work toward what you imagine you can do perfectly. You cling ever more tightly to what you already know you can do – away from risk and exploration, and possibly further from the work of your heart. You find reasons to procrastinate, since to not work is to not make mistakes.”

Yes, to not write a blog is to not make a fool of myself. But if there's anything that writing the Aldo Zelnick series has taught me, it's that putting yourself—your truest self—out there is the only way to really connect with others and make a difference, even if now and then you do make a fool of yourself.

So here goes nothing...and everything! 

11 Comments
Susanna Leonard Hill link
4/2/2013 07:36:11 am

Congrats on taking the leap! :)

Reply
Karla Oceanak
4/2/2013 08:09:21 am

Thanks!

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Christine Goold
4/2/2013 09:59:35 am

Hi Karla - That looks like my neighbor, Quinn. Is it?

Reply
Karla Oceanak
4/2/2013 10:12:31 am

No, but he is a fan from Durango! His name is Cormac.

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Christine Goold
4/2/2013 11:22:46 am

Sorry - I think I asked you that before. Good luck with the blog!

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Candace O'Connor
4/2/2013 11:35:35 am

I'm so pleased that you have started a blog! It's the best news I've had all day. I have a lot of admiration for those who tackle their "real" to-do list. Maybe you will inspire me to tackle a few on mine. (I have it hidden in the back of one of cookbooks.)

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Jennifer Young link
4/3/2013 10:45:32 am

Good advice to remember.

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Vivian Kirkfield link
4/3/2013 04:42:37 pm

This is lovely...and inspiring. ;)
I see you are using Weebly...how do you like it? Someone suggested it as a great site for author who blog.

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Jennifer Kirkeby link
4/4/2013 12:24:19 am

I can sure relate, Karla! Kudos to you - you're off to a great start!

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Karla Oceanak
4/4/2013 03:38:11 am

I just started using it this week...but I CAN say that it was incredibly easy to build and publish the website. And free!

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Karla Oceanak
4/4/2013 03:39:48 am

Thanks! It was fun! But now I have Second Post Anxiety Disorder. :)

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