FEBRUARY Launch a blog
Launching a blog is one of the scariest things I’ve done and that’s exactly why I picked it for my February misogi. I’ve always enjoyed writing and have wanted to start blogging for years but a handful of fears kept me from doing it till now. It’s normal to be intimidated of putting yourself out there but fear should never dictate the limits of what you can achieve. It’s not about eradicating them completely but learning how to manage your fears well enough that they don’t hold you back.
If you’ve ever contemplated sharing your ideas with the world but have been too afraid of doing so, you’ll probably relate to some of the worries I’m about to share. Hopefully, the reasons that helped me overcome them encourage you to take that leap and share your voice too. I believe we all have something valuable to share.
Why start a blog?
I love writing and have written countless fictional stories and journal entries over the years for myself. I’m happy for them to stay private, but I’d like to use my passion for writing to share something of value with others. If I can help at least one person feel slightly more confident or inspired to take action, travel and grow, then this entire endeavour will be worth it. Even if I don’t, I know it will immensely help at least one person: myself.
Writing a blog is an exercise in discipline, vulnerability and writing skills. I’m excited about the prospect of growing and becoming a better writer through this process. It’s also incredibly satisfying to produce something tangible that I can revisit in the years to come, even if I’ll cringe at my earlier work. Ultimately, starting a blog is a way of becoming a better writer, holding myself accountable, and sharing something of value with others.
10 fears and 10 ways of overcoming them
So here it goes: 10-ish years of fears condensed into 10 points and how I managed to get over them (sort of) to finally click that publish button.
1) I’m afraid that people will judge me.
Say what you will but we all care about it to some extent: What will people think?
The fear of judgement can often hold us back but it’s important to consider whose opinions truly matter. Typically, it’s those of the people closest to us and their feedback is often constructive and helpful. When it comes to other people, their reaction is less predictable and not everyone will agree with or like what you have to say, but that’s okay. They’re not obliged to read your content and you do get to choose how you react to people’s criticisms. More often than not though, people appreciate the courage it takes to be vulnerable and authentic. I also try to remind myself that people don’t think about us as much as we might think they do. It’s easy to get caught up in our heads and worry about what others might say, but the truth is, people have their own lives to focus on.
It’s easier said than done but we really shouldn’t be afraid to share our thoughts because we’re concerned about how others may perceive them.
2) I don’t have anything new to contribute.
It can be overwhelming to think about the sheer amount of content already on the internet. It’s easy to wonder if anything we have to say could be new or interesting. However, while certain topics may have been discussed before, no one has lived your life or experienced things in the same way that you have. That unique perspective is what sets each voice apart.
Rather than worrying about being completely original, I’m trying to focus on framing my experiences and thoughts in a way that feels authentic to who I am, and share not just the successes but also the process and failures along the way. The book that helped me develop this perspective was “Show Your Work!” by Austin Kleon, which emphasises the value of sharing the journey and not just the final destination. You never know who might benefit from your experiences, so don’t let the fear of being unoriginal hold you back.
“Fortunately, there’s a way to tell open-ended stories, where we acknowledge that we’re smack-dab in the middle of a story, and we don’t know how it all ends.”
Austin Kleon, Show Your Work!
3) I will expose myself too much to people I don’t even know.
I’m a private person and often overanalyse what I say or do. It can be good to be cautious but it does hold me back, and sharing my thoughts and experiences with strangers feels intimidating. However, I’ve tried to manage this fear by reminding myself that:
- I’m in control of what I share
- Most people have good intentions
- We’re all more similar than we think
If travelling has taught me anything, it’s that people across the world have more in common than we sometime believe. Despite our different backgrounds and experiences, we all share basic human emotions and struggles. When you write from that perspective, you’re not exposing yourself as much as you might think. Instead, you’re sharing a relatable experience that others have likely gone through as well. So trust yourself and your instincts, and share what feels right to you.
4) It could harm my career.
I recently attended a workshop in Bali on how to build authentic brands, and the speaker helped me put this fear into perspective. After the talk, I went up to her and mentioned how I was thinking of starting a blog using my real name but worried it could put off potential clients or future employers from wanting to work with me. She asked me to think about the types of clients and companies I’d like to work with. Would I want to work with people who are put off by my effort at being honest and sharing my experiences? Short answer: not really. If anything, as she pointed out, it could help me attract the types of people I’d most want to work with.
This advice helped me see that being vulnerable and sharing your experiences can be an asset in building your personal brand. Of course, it’s important to be mindful of sensitive topics and the cultural context you find yourself in, but ultimately, finding a way to share your truth authentically could bring you more opportunities than drawbacks.
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”
Brené Brown, The Power of Vulnerability TED Talk
5) Once it’s out on the internet, it can never be taken back.
My experience working in the digital technology industry, as well as studying cybersecurity as part of my university course, made me very aware of the potential risks of sharing personal data online. The more you interact with the digital space, the more personal data you produce and the harder it is to completely erase it.
However, we’re talking about blogging here. Most platforms, such as WordPress, Instagram, Facebook etc., have an “unpublish” button that allows you to take down or edit your content if needed. While it won’t completely erase the content from the online space, it does give you some control over your content post-sharing. That being said, the best way to protect yourself from uncomfortable situations is to be thoughtful about what you share in the first place – and that is something you’re in control of. So be aware, inform yourself and think things through before your share.
6) I’m not sure how to balance privacy and honesty.
Finding the right balance between privacy and honesty is challenging when writing about personal growth and travel experiences. I want to be authentic and truthful, but that can mean opening up about sensitive topics and involving other people. However, I believe that I don’t have to share every detail to convey a meaningful lesson or experience. Metaphors, changing names, and avoiding identifiable details can be effective ways to protect privacy while still being honest.
As the creator, you can also seek advice from friends, ask for permission, or simply sleep on it if you’re unsure about sharing a particular story. Ultimately, the decision to share personal experiences is yours and yours alone. I think that by being thoughtful, it’s possible to write authentically while also respecting your privacy and those of others.
7) My opinion might change over time.
For a long time, I was afraid to write down my opinions. I worried about being tied to them or regretting having them. It seemed like there was always more to understand on any given topic, and I felt like I couldn’t possibly have a steadfast opinion. With time, this fear naturally subsided because of the following realisations:
- Opinions don’t have to be fixed. Changing your mind is a good thing – it means you’re growing and learning. We should embrace these changes rather than be afraid of them.
- If you do change your mind on a subject, it’s worth reflecting on why and sharing that with others. It’s interesting to see the development of new ideas, and it shows that you’re open to different perspectives.
- I’m not a teenager anymore trying to figure out my first opinions on life, love, and politics. I’ve had some of my beliefs for years and have had them challenged, so why not stand by them publicly?
“Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs and upgrade and expand your identity.”
James Clear, Atomic Habits
8) If I give up on writing this blog, everyone will know.
Publicly failing to achieve something you’ve set out to do is embarrassing but that’s exactly why it’s worth sharing it with others. I’m not the most self-disciplined, nor am I particularly good at meeting deadlines. I’ve improved massively over the years but it’s still a work in progress. However, now that I’ve said to my friends and family that I’m starting this blog, I have one more trick up my sleeve to overcome procrastination: not wanting to fail in front of others.
A little bit of fear can be a good thing. It can help us break bad habits and hold ourselves accountable. Of course, we shouldn’t let fear of failure paralyse us – but a healthy dose of it can keep us motivated. And if we do miss a deadline or fall short of our goals, it’s important to remember that it’s better to be late than never start at all. Most people won’t even know that we missed our deadline, and being honest about it can help us learn and grow.
Speaking of which, I had intended to publish this blog post a week ago – better late than never, right?
9) My contributions and writing aren’t good enough to share.
Perfectionism paralyses and kills creativity. I feel like I’m arm-wrestling with it every time I try to create anything. It’s frustrating and often makes me want to give up. This extends to far more than blogging but when it comes to writing, it takes me forever before a piece feels right and even then, the temptation to keep editing is always there.
I’m still not great at managing this fear but what has helped me so far is to:
- Look at people’s writing that is better than mine and try and learn from it
- Find motivation in seeing others who are at a similar stage to me take action and share their work
- Listen to the friends who encourage me and believe them when they say my work is good enough
- Encourage others and when I do so, listen to my own advice
- Remind myself that done is better than perfect.
10) It won’t bring any value to anyone.
Whether or not it does, is for you to judge. I can only hope that whatever I put out there has some value for at least some people. I wanted to end with this final fear because it’s a good example of how a mindset change can help to push you forward.
For a long time, I solely focused on what sort of value a blog could bring others and forgot to reflect on the benefits it would bring me. Redirecting my focus on what I would gain from starting a blog reduced the pressure of needing it to be amazing, and successful from the start. Before worrying about that, ask yourself why you want to share your thoughts and what you stand to gain from doing so. If you enjoy what you write about and understand your motivation, then the journey will be meaningful and enjoyable regardless of the outcome.
“Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you.”
Austin Kleon, Show Your Work!
Did I meet my February misogi?
I’m proud to have started my blog, but I didn’t complete my February misogi in time. Even though I worked on it throughout the month, I ended up launching this blog a week into March. While this might not seem like much of a delay, I do think that completing these misogis within their given time frame is part of the challenge.
However, not meeting the February misogi deadline taught me a valuable lesson. Despite my excitement for these challenges, they must fit around my life’s other priorities and circumstances. February was a busy month for me, including moving locations three times, catching a virus that took over 10 days to fully recover from, focusing on an important work project, and dealing with some emotionally challenging moments. While the monthly misogis are a priority, they’re not the only one, and I need to learn how to balance them with other aspects of life.
Just do it!
When I clicked the publish button and shared my blog with friends and family for the first time, I felt an immense sense of relief and excitement. Finally, I had accomplished something I had been contemplating for a long time. For a moment, it made me feel invincible, and I wondered what else I could achieve by proving myself wrong.
The 10 fears I mentioned still creep up on me. I often find myself doubting why I’m doing this and whether I should stick to it. In fact, I drafted this article before publishing my blog to have something to look back on when these fears pop back up and I need reminding of how to get passed them.
If you share similar fears and worries about sharing your story, I hope this article encourages you to break them down and find ways to overcome them. Taking the first step is always challenging, but once you do, you’ll feel proud and motivated to keep going. Manage your fears; don’t let them hold you back. As the famous Nike slogan goes, “Just do it!”