Don't let fear of rejection or failure define 2017

I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. I don't look forward to reliving how I didn’t achieve most of my goals or how I didn’t learn anything or reach any great epiphanies. You’d think I would, being a writer and all. But it’s too discouraging to think back to last January with all its wide-open promise and potential, only to realize I’m a year older and I didn’t do what I wanted to do. I didn’t grow as an individual. I didn’t challenge myself. I didn’t change the world.

Who wants to spend a weekend dwelling on the uninspiring year that preceded this one?

We’re already nine days into 2017 & I have barely thought about today's to-do list, let alone a whole year of goals and aspirations I should be striving for.

I’ll admit it, I don’t want to make another list of goals I probably won’t reach. I’m afraid. Remember my last post in December? It was all about letting fear keep us from reaching our goals and achieving our potential. I wrote about the fear of failure that prevents us from going after what we want. The instant you think of something you want to achieve, a goal to set, or dream you’ve put off for too long, an avalanche of negativity falls upon your head, convincing you you aren’t up to the task. You failed before. You didn’t do it last time. You’ll assuredly fail again.

I don’t want that negativity to define tomorrow, let alone 2017.

It is almost certain that no matter how good you are at something, you’ll find someone else better at it. Especially in this digital age where a world of information is right at your fingertips. Think of all the poets, writers, painters, sculptors, designers, and architects of the world, past and present. Quick, name the best one in any field. You can’t since “best” is a relative term. You may love the work of a writer I find tedious. My favorite musician’s work may sound like nails on a chalkboard to you. If they are not the “best” in their profession, even though they achieved worldwide fame and acclaim, how can we hope to become the best at something? Or even pretty darn good?

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to become the best we can be. We all have something to offer, even if we’re not the best at it. You may be better than me at devising an intriguing plot that will keep a reader on the edge of her seat. You may be better at creating captivating characters or titillating dialog. There are plenty of writers who are. That doesn’t mean I should give up writing. Believe me, I’ve thought about it. I’ve read through the Top 100 paid books on Amazon with the harsh reality that one of my books may never make the list. Should I stop writing? Should I stop growing in my craft? Should I stop setting goals? Should I focus on my day job that isn’t very satisfying because it pays the bills?

Not on your life.

I will keep writing because I believe that’s what I’m meant to do. I have too many stories in my head begging to be written, and I would regret it if I didn’t at least try. I get my share of reviews that tell me I stink at writing. I also get enough reviews that tell me my stories are interesting and entertaining and readers want more to keep me plugging ahead. Even if I never got another 5-star review I like to think I’d keep producing. I can’t let the fear of failure or rejection make me look back on my life and wonder; What if I kept writing? What if I’d finished that book? What if it was my break-out novel?

Is fear keeping you from doing something you really want to do? Like going after that job promotion? Or finishing your book? Or going back to school? Or quitting school and starting your own business? Don’t do anything rash without looking at it from all angles. But don’t let fear make you settle for a mediocre life of ignoring your dreams because you might fall flat on your face. Somebody smarter than me once said; It’s not how many times you fall that count. It’s how many times you get back up.