Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We are our most potent at our most ordinary. And yet most of us discount our “ordinary” because it is, well, ordinary. Or so we believe. But my ordinary is not yours. Three things block us from putting down our clever and picking up our ordinary: false comparisons with others (I’m not as good a writer as _____), false expectations of ourselves (I should be on the NYTimes best seller list or not write at all), and false investments in a story (it’s all been written before, I shouldn’t bother). What are your false comparisons? What are your false expectations? What are your false investments in a story? List them. Each keep you from that internal knowing about which Emerson writes. Each keeps you from making your strong offer to the world. Put down your clever, and pick up your ordinary.
(Author: Patti Digh)
My false comparisons are with those who have been there and are doing that. That’s how I unknowingly evade the path of originality – by attempting to re-create ownership.
Oh, where do I begin? I’m not formally trained in writing like so-and-so is. I’m not young enough, I’m not smart or scrappy enough or have enough energy. I always miss obvious things, unlike this other positive person who sees the opportunities and acts on them consistently.
False investments are something that cross my mind often, especially when it comes to creating art. I think we all do it when it comes to creative pursuits. We think “I could do that!” But the thing is, we don’t! And if we did, probably wouldn’t even come close to the original work which is ironically enough perhaps why we don’t “do it” in the first place.
Maybe, by trying less to be so clever and just being who we are devoid of any pre-conceived expectation, the work will flow and as a result becomes more powerful and authentic.
Setting loose our inner creative ain’t easy. Let alone when we’re comparing ourselves to others in the process.
When it come to writing, I often consider the idea that someone else is writing about the exact same topics as I am. It crosses my mind that this person will likely do it better than I ever could, and have more connections, time, and resources. It’s so crazy! I try my best to block out that little voice because ultimately it’s that paranoia preventing me from doing my personal best.
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