I did the thing.
Hello dear reader!
Yesterday was a very special day…. because yesterday I became a published author! CHECK IT OUT! (And buy my book!)
I’m so excited! I’m proud of myself. I worked really hard to make my book the very best it could be. I poured my whole heart and soul into this over the last two and a half years. This has been a dream of mine since I was old enough to think about what I wanted to be when I grew up. As cheesy as it sounds this is literally a dream come true for me. It is a huge item checked off my bucket list.
I also feel like puking. I made the announcement on social media. My wonderfully supportive friends and family have started purchasing copies. And I feel myself immediately slipping into panic mode. There’s no turning back now. People are going to read my book…
What if they hate it? What if they think it’s stupid? What if they’re offended or upset because my book is rated R? What if they think my characters suck? What if, what if, what if!?!?!
Well, self... I’ve got some news for you: someone, out there in the vast wide world of the internet, is probably going to get a hold of my book and read it, and think it’s absolute garbage. And they will write all kinds of nasty reviews about it, or say mean things to you on social media. Those things will happen.
BUT. Just because someone does not like my book does not mean that I have any less value as a person.
And herein lies the lesson, dear reader. Let me say it again. Just because someone does not like a thing that you did, does not mean you are worthless.
Weird how our brains immediately go to the dark places and don’t just let us enjoy our freaking accomplishments every once in a while. Sheesh.
Maybe it’s just me that struggles with that kind of thing? Maybe not. Some things to keep in mind. People who are talking shit are usually not the people out there doing the thing. When someone puts someone else down, that says a lot more about them than about you. Don’t listen to the nay-sayers. Your thing isn’t always going to be everyone’s cup of tea. AND THAT’S OK. :)
I was talking with my coach this morning about this exact thing, and how scary it feels to be putting myself out there. She talked about mastering your feelings and being willing to feel the feelings rather than fearing rejection and judgment. This allows you to be strong enough to do what you really want to do in life. If you spend your whole life afraid of being judged or rejected it will keep you from accomplishing your greatest work. This is REALLY hard to wrap our brains around because we’re social animals and we’re hard-wired to seek acceptance. But if you let yourself feel the feels and then move past them and do the thing, you’ll be so glad you did. It takes a lot of strength and courage to allow yourself to feel all of the feelings, both good and bad, and to move through them. But you know what? I’ve got it in me to do it and so do you.
So even though I’m absolutely terrified of being judged, which is going to happen anyway, I did the thing. (It’s ok to do the thing scared.) I published the book. I shared it with the world. And if I can do it, you can do it too.
I’ll leave you with the same quote that my coach left me with this morning:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marrianne Williamson
Till next time dear reader… GO DO THE THING! This is me giving you permission: go shine and be your most awesome most fabulous self! (And buy my book while you’re at it, haha!) <3 Tiff
Me, striking a Power Pose, with my proof copy.
