overcoming the fear of sharing what you create

“how do you overcome the fear of writing when you aren’t consistent and also worry that what you’re writing has already been said before?”

(note: my advice will suit you if you have any practice you desire to do more regularly, whether or not that’s writing.)

there are no (or perhaps, few) truly new ideas. most things you enjoy are a repackaged version of something that already exists.

you may even enjoy consuming the ‘same idea’ in multiple packages.

i like to remind myself that i’m a vessel of a message. it’s not actually about me. and for those who connect with the messages i share and can digest it in the way that they come out through me, that’s wonderful. that might be for a moment, a season, or a lifetime. i concern myself with the integrity of what and how i share. i try to distance myself from the rest because i can’t control it.

to the question asker’s point about inconsistency, i gather that they desire to write consistently and that is within your control.

start by trying to detach judgment of the quality of your writing with the act of doing it regularly.

consider ways you can build a habit like connecting it to part of your routine that you already do consistently.

i’d also consider blocking time for it, not scheduling over it, and making it something you do earlier in the day when your reservoir of willpower isn’t depleted yet.

anything you want to do well takes time to develop. anything you want to do consistently also requires actions that may feel unpleasant at first until it’s muscle memory to do it ongoingly (you may recall this message on discipline and focus from 2 weeks ago).

when you get out of the practice of doing it, start again as quickly as you notice it. celebrate yourself for your awareness and for starting again. the moment you start to chastise yourself for breaking a streak, you’re going into a mode of self-sabotage and moving farther away from the outcome you’re seeking.