Says who?

One of the joys I’ve experienced from creating this blog is re-discovering the pleasure of writing.  While written communication is part of many people’s work, I don’t really think of myself as a "writer".  I’ve generally got a sparse, terse to-the-point style, honed from years of writing policy briefs and grant proposals.  "Just the facts, ma’am."

As a young person, I wrote stories and poems for my own enjoyment and expression, and in college was torn between pursuing a major in English or Biology.  Then as part of an independent study course in creative writing, a professor invited a published author to critique some students’ work, including mine.  While I can no longer remember exactly what the author said about my writing, whatever it was, it felt damning enough at the time that I stopped writing after the independent study was over beyond whatever I needed to do for my course work.

Thinking back on it now, I’m sorry I let one person’s opinion of my work stop me from doing something I enjoyed and did naturally.  Even now, finding my own voice here is still a struggle at times:  I fret over my words on each post, and feel the knot of self-consciousness slip into my throat as I read my drafts. 

But in some small way, I dismiss that old belief of "you can’t write!" every time I publish something here.

We all have things to say and do that are crucial and needed for our world to thrive, survive and improve.  It’s nothing short of our moral imperative to find our voices, clarify our vision, and take action: to make a difference.

Many people labor for years with faulty beliefs imposed upon them either from the inside or outside, often starting with words like  "you can’t", "you shouldn’t" or  "who are you to…". 

Wherever that’s coming from, let it go.  Who’s saying you can’t write, can’t lead, can’t swim against the tide?  Is it really true?

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What belief have you bought into believing that’s got you stopped cold? 
Today, what’s not going to get in your way?