Neil Gaiman wisely advised, “You must finish things — that’s what you learn from. You learn by finishing things.” It’s a raw reminder that to discover the heart of our craft, we must relentlessly pour out our imperfections.
Drawing from that wisdom, everyone endlessly recites that age-old mantra: the only damn thing standing between you and your dream is yourself.
Yeah, groundbreaking…
Tell me something that doesn’t sound like a broken record.
But after dragging myself through a year and a half of therapy, if I were to scrape the bottom of my soul and lay it all out?
It’s not just me.
It’s these gnawing, damned habits…
Diving into the Rabbit Hole of Raw Realities
I started scribbling words on paper about 16 years ago, ignited by my best friend’s twisted rhymes. The way she danced with words mirrored the chaos and passion brewing inside her.
It wasn’t just writing; it was raw emotion leaking onto the page.
Her work? It was like a drug.
Dark, wild, and poetic. It made me feel. It made me ache. It screamed empathy.
But damn it, I’ve been dancing on the edge, never fully diving into my own writing abyss.
Why?
These chains, these monsters keeping me from tearing open my potential:
1- The Procrastinating Termite: What’s this beast? It’s that whispering shadow of failure, that growing abyss inside us, which we idiotically try to plug with lame excuses. “You can’t pay bills with passion.” “Dreams don’t pay rent.” Money is always freaking money.
So, we shrug, we sigh, and we sell our souls to the monotony of 9–5, putting our true calling on a dusty shelf.
2- The Settler Ghoul: Life’s thrown its punches. With economic tsunamis drowning us, it’s even easier to crawl into our caves and let our dreams wither. Sure, we need cash. I couldn’t scream my thoughts here without some coins in my pocket. But while money shouts its worth, there’s more to this dance of life.
3- The Choking Fear of Failure: Back to that lurking demon: it’s the cold hand of fear, tightening around our throats. If you’ve been the family’s rock, you get it. The weight. The dread of cracking, of not holding up. Of not just letting them down but tumbling yourself into the chasm.
4- The Desperate Pleaser: It’s intoxicating, isn’t it? That high when you’re everyone’s hero? It’s a drug that needs validation. It feeds the delusional god-complex, the mask you wear until it starts to smother you. Instead of facing the storm inside, it’s simpler to pop the pill of denial, wearing that damned crown of imagined heroism.
5- The Damn Social Noose: Beyond the masks and the crowns, it’s the raw wound of self-worth. Starting anew feels like tearing open old scars, especially when social media shoves everyone’s glorified moments in your face. Their glitz and glam make your treasures feel like trash. But remember, it’s their highlight reel, not their behind-the-scenes.
So, with these demons out in the open, how the hell do we fight them?
Before we even talk strategy, how about we rip off the bandage and stare at the wound?
Let’s see it for what it is.
Navigating the Labyrinth: Prepping for the Dive into Self-Discovery
Trigger much?
Yeah, that raw, unfiltered truth sure stings, doesn’t it?
I thought so, too.
For the longest time, I avoided that brutal honesty because, frankly, it unveiled the fierce critic lurking within me.
If I’d embraced that self-awareness sooner, life’s choices, its inevitable process of elimination, might have come with a bit more clarity.
Yet, the people-pleaser in me muddled the waters.
I dodged my truth, not just because it wasn’t the prettiest sight, but because admitting it would shatter the polished facade I’d so carefully constructed.
Ah, the dreaded identity crisis…
It’s like a sneaky shadow that’s always trailing you, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
But here’s a thought: Wouldn’t life be simpler if we acknowledged that we’re an amalgamation of diverse pieces?
Not flaws, just… parts. Different, unique, and intrinsically human parts.
Self-respect and no regrets. That’s the mantra.
Our essence, our humanity, goes far beyond our self-conception.
It transcends societal labels and perceived roles.
Embracing the Chaos: The Grand Finale of Self-Discovery
As we carve out room in our hearts to embrace our truths, shouldn’t we also infuse that space with a dose of compassion?
Trust me, with a bit of that, you might just be kinder to yourself than I’ve been.
So, instead of running from them, how about we open the door to our inner demons?
Whether it’s the procrastinating termite, the settler ghoul, the desperate pleaser, or that suffocating social noose, let’s give them a nod of recognition.
If we are to really bid them farewell, we must first understand their importance in our lives.
After all, you are the gatekeeper of your soul, the one who determines what influences you and what doesn’t.
It’s time to understand and accept the origins of our intricacies to truly begin the journey.
So, are you ready to rip off the mask and bleed your truth?