Stop not writing
The path to your dreams must be walked, step by step.
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One of my favorite pieces of advice comes from the inimitable writer Anne Lamott. Whenever she’s asked what her best advice for aspiring authors would be, she simply says,
“Step 1: stop not writing.”
And that’s the thing, right?
In order to become the version of us we want to be, we have to stop being the one we are now. We have to untangle our identity from the version of us who benefits from staying the same.
The version of you who doesn’t “write” (or whatever your thing is), does so because she doesn’t feel ready yet. / Or because she’s scared that it won’t be good enough. / Or that people will judge her. / She’s too busy. / There isn’t enough time to write how she really wants to. / She’s not an author. / She doesn’t know how, or she’s scared, or she’s overwhelmed, or she’s judging herself, or all of the above all at once.
So, in order to be the version of you who has a finished book, you have to stop not writing. In order to be the version of you who feels amazing in her body, you have to stop not working out. In order to be the version of you who’s happily in love, you have to stop avoiding the inner work.
In order to be the version of you who’s living her dream life, you have to stop not showing up for yourself.
That’s it. That’s the work.
And in the midst of taking the action, you will inevitably come face to face with all the reasons you were avoiding it in the first place. And you’ll have to negotiate with those parts of you, and tend to your inner child, and embrace your shadow, in order to keep doing the thing.
I’m not saying it’s easy work, but it’s actually quite simple. Much more simple than we make it out to be. We only stay stuck because we’re so committed to being loyal to our past selves, that we’re scared to give our future self a real shot.
You’ll never be fully ready
I’m one of those people who can spend a lot of time in preparation mode.
I love researching, and planning, and brainstorming, and creating all of the strategy. And if you’re one of those people too, then you’re familiar with the feeling inside that tells you you’re not quite ready yet. There’s just a little more prep work to do. Another certification. Another google search. Another week or two to strategize.
And you never actually move into execution or embodiment.
It’s SO tempting to stay in preparation mode, because it feels so productive. We feel responsible and in control when we’re honing our skills and doing our research. But all we’re really doing is biding our time. Pushing the start date out further and further until we lose motivation entirely or convince ourselves that it’s not a good idea after all.
I can’t tell you how many good ideas I’ve lost to this cycle.
My success finally started showing up, not because I’d struck gold with the perfect idea and perfect timing, but because I committed to relentless action. I committed to taking small steps every single day, whether I felt like it or not.
I stopped not writing.
So, what is it for you?
What’s the thing you need to stop not doing? I know that it’s been calling you, tugging at your sleeves begging you to say yes. And what if you did? What if you just decided to become the person who does the thing?
You should know that the world would like to meet that version of you. We’re out here waiting for you to show up as your most authentic self. Create the thing. Write the book. Take the trip. Live the life that makes others light up with curiosity.
And most of all, make sure you do it with love.
with love for all versions of you,
Megs
Closing The Gap
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