3 self-limiting beliefs…and how I overcame them
It’s simple but hard…and I feel dumb
Everyone’s got self-limiting beliefs that they deal with.
Here are three big ones that loom large, and what I’ve been doing to fight them…
Judgment Day
I used to be afraid of other people judging me for my opinions.
Safe to say that I’m not afraid of it anymore after writing on the internet for a few years.
I may not be the most charismatic person or the best writer, but I’ve become less reluctant to express my views on life the older I get (not to mention that it’s a requirement for parenting anyway). There’s no excuse to keep your opinions to yourself, especially when it comes from a place of wanting to help others.
That’s the key to it all…if you’re out here because you’re looking for a fight, then you’re wasting your time. Fighting on the internet is about as useful as punching the sea.
So yeah, share your thoughts and your experiences. You accomplished them. They happened to you. You get to offer it to the world.
Holding back only deprives others of the wisdom you have.
It ain’t much
While I now have endless content to share and write about, there was a point not too long ago where I just stared at a blank screen, a blank wall, or a blank sheet of paper.
The reason? I thought too hard about every single idea that came across my mind.
“Nah, nobody wants to hear about that.”
“Nope, too stupid. Everyone’s done it already.”
“That’s definitely not worth talking about for any reason.”
Amazing how many variations of these three you can come up with while you’re standing on the writer’s block.
One of the first things you need to do is to stop self-editing on overdrive. The rate at which you delete your own thoughts from potential scrutiny is far higher than the rate at which you allow them to even reach your fingertips. Stream of consciousness is one of the best exercises for grinding down the blockage in your brain.
It takes time to get the gears turning and for the tubes to get clear of all the blockage if you haven’t been writing long, but it’s worth it in the end.
Holding back on your thoughts is like constipation for the brain.
Set your own pace
I would like to make some money from sharing my writing someday.
There are 1,524,354 ways to do it and more ways not to. I pulled that number right out of thin air, and it’s one of those dumb things that you can do to get attention on the internet. I’ve been DM’d, scammed, and otherwise manipulated into doing things that have cost me more than I care to admit.
But I’m still here.
I refuse to do some of the more questionable marketing tactics that are out there. It doesn’t align with my belief that people deserve to be fairly treated. There’s more to marketing and self-promotion than spamming the FOMO button like there’s no tomorrow.
I’ve also met awesome people who know their stuff out here.
The longer you’re in this game, the more you’ll learn about what you will tolerate when it comes to cheap tactics and who deserves your time. Red flags like high-pressure sales, persistent boiler-plate DMs, and emails that become repetitive countdown timers will become familiar to you.
Stick to your guns and shoot when necessary.
Departing from the station
I can’t quite pinpoint the moment, but I got off the hype train a few stops back.
In that time, I’ve discovered that I appreciate the effort of just writing and figuring things out for myself than trying to shoehorn myself into something that I’m not ready to do. It just takes time that I don’t have right now, but I’m learning one day at a time.
Consistent action is only the first step, and it’s the one that matters right now.
I’m writing every day.
I’m sharing every day.
I’m reflecting every day.
Sure, it’s into the void at the moment, but I’ve pulled off a few tricks so far that I can be proud of.
What are you doing?
You continue to inspire me to write more, Vince. I need to set a goal of posting more frequently instead of fretting over the best output. That's the way to build an audience and dialogue.