I sometimes find myself censoring my thoughts and avoiding writing about things I am passionate about or that reveal too much of who I am.
It is partly because many of the people who currently receive The Dreaming Café’s weekly email message and read this blog are family, friends and co-workers, people I have known my whole life, or for a long time.
The other part is just plain old fear.
Writing is very personal and an intimate act of sharing and communicating. Opening my heart and soul and sharing my innermost thoughts, ideas, passions, and stories makes me vulnerable and open to criticism.
The negative reactions or criticisms of people who don’t understand what I am doing or feel threatened in some way has the same power to weaken me as Kryptonite does Superman.
Positive feedback is like the soothing coolness of aloe-vera on a burn. It’s an ‘ahhh’ moment.
But, I don’t want either one.
Well, not exactly. I want positive feedback as much as the next person. And, positive feedback, sometimes, is the only thing that keeps me going in the face of my own fears and negativity.
But, I do not want to write or create with the expectation of either.
I want to be honest and open in my writing, my art and my businesses.
When I hold back, the reader may or may not realize it, but I know. When I let go and write freely and openly the reader always knows.
As I continue to explore my writing and expand my creative energy to include the artist and entrepreneur within me, I want each to be an authentic, fearless manifestation of who I am.
In the past, writing, creating and sharing from this level of authenticity has invoked a wide range of emotions in my readers, including gratitude, fear, and anger.
When gratitude comes my way, I am honored and feel very grateful to have had the courage and the opportunity to share something that made a difference.
But, I have come to realize that those that react from fear or anger are not ready to hear, see or participate in what I want to do. And, that is okay. I have been on both sides of this exchange and understand. We are all on our own path and travel in our own timeline. When they are ready they will come back, or they will find someone else to help them and guide them, someone who resonates with who they are, a fellow member of their Tribe.
We all need to find our ‘Tribe’, a concept popularized by Seth Godin in his book TRIBES: WE NEED YOU TO LEAD US.
One of the leaders in my Tribe Barbara Winter helped me find a new, fellow Tribe member, Ken Robert, today. His open and honest writing helped me put my own thoughts, feelings and fears in perspective. If you are interested in reading more about Ken follow this link: Ken Robert
For everyone who drops by, old or new, I hope we can travel together for a bit, or meet up somewhere down the road. If our paths separate, as often they will, I wish you only the best and hope you find other members of your Tribe along the way.
And, if you decide to hang out with me and The Dreaming Cafe, I promise you, and myself, that I will no longer censor what my heart calls me to express, not in my writing, not in my art and not in my businesses.
That’s a little scary, but I realize that no journey, no adventure is without fear, risk, challenge and reward.
The reward is honoring who I am, what I believe and what I feel, and sharing it with others in ways that help them as they travel their own path and experience their own adventures.
Thank you again for inviting me into your life for a few minutes.
Comment or email me at sandy@thedreamingcafe.com
