When I worked in the public library system, I was blessed to meet quite a few people who were writers. No, they weren’t all published or well-known, but I was always fascinated to meet them. It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there on the page or computer/phone screen, and I envied those people for their courage. Personally, I wasn’t there yet. At most, I would share some of what I had written with my friends, but I just wasn’t ready to tell people that I was a writer.
Now, I’m finally telling people that writing is what I really want to do with my career, and I just realized that it gets a little easier to talk about every time I tell someone. I started with the people I knew loved me most, and I’m expanding that circle a little at a time. I knew the people that loved me would encourage me, and you need a lot of encouragement when you are striking out on a career that a lot of people view as a dead end. Good thing I have a bit of rebellious streak when it comes to what I call success.
Yes, it is scary when I first tell some people, but I have been amazed at how many people have then asked me to tell them more. After I talk to them, I understand that I have thought this through more than I realized. I’m still working on some of the plans, but I already have a lot of the details in my head. In last Thursday’s post, Slow and Steady, I talked about how it’s okay to take your time, but I also realized that I already have a bit of a roadmap planned out in my mind as to how I want to travel through my ideas. Talking about my writing was one of the weigh stations on the roadmap. I knew I would eventually need to talk with different people to share my hopes, ideas, plans, and current writing, and that’s what I’m finally doing. I hadn’t really decided when it was going to happen, but it was still one of the steps that I just stumbled upon.
When we decide to do something with our careers that seems off the typical map, we may meet with resistance from people because many have a different mindset. Be sure to find people who encourage you to dream and expand upon your ideas and plans, but make sure they hold you accountable, too. The idea is to move forward, even slowly, instead of sitting still, and if someone is just discouraging you, maybe it’s time to take a break from their voice. Yes, we need people to be honest and realistic with us, but if they aren’t even trying to help you move forward, you may need different voices around you to encourage your plans. That is why I’m finding it so important to talk about my plans because the people I’ve carefully chosen to share my ideas with will help me move forward with encouragement and honesty. Surround yourself with those people as you make a career change or any big decision, and then talk about what’s on your mind.
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Inspirational Verses for the Day:
My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. (James 1:19-20, HCSB)
All Things Subject to Change 