But, it's already been said or done.
Over the last few weeks on my coaching calls, I’ve noticed a common theme amongst women: ‘it’s already been said/done-itis’.
You know, “Who am I to start a business?” “Who am I to write a book?” “Who am I to be a speaker?” “Who am I do create an exercise DVD?” “What do I have to say (offer) that hasn’t already been said!”.
Ooooo girl. That kind of thinking is death and will absolutely crush your dreams.
Today, I thought I’d share an awareness I had from experiencing my own ‘it’s already been said/done-itis’ and what helped me feel the fear and move forward anyway.
I’m about to tell you something I’ve never shared with anyone. Something that scares the bejeezus out of me!
Lately, I’ve been getting some hints from the Universe that it’s time to write my first book. Gulp. Just writing that feels terrifying!
I’ve never considered myself a writer. Nor have I always dreamt of being a published author. But, I also never intended to be an entrepreneur, pioneering a movement of change for women. And, I’m beyond grateful I said yes to that when the idea showed up. So, I can only hope to feel the same after writing a book. Gulp. Again!
Yet the internal battle begins:
Who am I to write a book?
What do I possibly have to say that hasn’t already been said?
Who would read it?
Do I even have that many words in me?
I don’t even know where to start?
Those thoughts and many more just like them spiraled in my brain for days, pushing me deeper and deeper into my Ego ‘I can’t do it’ mindset. Until I had, what I consider to be a pretty big awareness.
It happened unexpectedly when I was putting together your special Valentine’s Playlist: A Lotta Love. It was:
There sure are a lot of songs written about love.
Seriously, have you ever considered how many thousands, if not millions of songs have been written about love? There’s ‘All You Need is Love’ by the Beatles. There’s ‘The Woman I Love’ by Jason Mraz. There’s “Someone Like You” by Adele. There’s “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. There’s ‘Crazy Love’, ‘Because You Loved Me’, ‘At Last’ and on and on and on.
The experience of love is fundamental to all humans, so of course it’s ideal to write about. It’s something we all know and can relate to.
But, imagine if The Beatles believed there were already enough songs written about love. We’d be missing out on so many incredible songs!
The Beatles writing about love doesn’t take away from what Jason Mraz has to say about it. And, what he has to say about it doesn’t take away from what anyone else does either.
So, why would that be any different for me and my book? No gulp this time!
All I have to do is share what’s in my heart and let go. It’s not up to me to determine who reads it and gets something out of it. It’s not up to me to figure out how it will get published. At least not right now.
What is up to me is to write. To sit down with pen and paper and let Spirit move through me.
Boy, that feels a whole lot better. It doesn’t feel like it’s just up to me anymore. It doesn’t feel like my whole life revolves around the success of my words. It feels like a blessing—first, for me and then for others.
One last comforting thought: The fact that there are other successful books on my topic out there demonstrates that there is already an established audience ready for this information. And, that’s a very good thing.
Something completely new, unknown and original may not jive with anyone. At least this way, I see proof of what’s possible.
If you are considering starting your own business, building your own website, writing your own book, or producing your own film and are experiencing ‘it’s already been said/done-itis’, I hope you’ve found comfort in this post.
At the end of the day, you are here for a reason and your voice matters. Make the decision and take action.
Wishing you courage and fulfillment of your deepest, heartfelt dreams.
Love,
Amber
