Can I level with you?

I sincerely missed connecting with you over the course of the past week or so!

There were reasons I was absent, legitimate ones most assuredly.

Two visits to the ER in the span of five days with several doctor visits on either side of the ER bookends led me on a whirlwind tour of our local healthcare providers.

Other than due to an accident, I have not visited the ER as much in thirty six years of marriage.

I am on the mend and plan on sharing a little more about one of the ER visits in the near future.  If you want a sneak preview of the topic area, check out this post.

Whatever the case, my apologies!  I’m back.

I have made a conscious effort for the better part of the last ten months to post twice per week.  For the most part I have hit the mark as I simply enjoy doing what I do.

I view it as developing my writing muscles through consistent, incremental steps.

Positive actions toward a desired outcome.

From time to time the thought does cross my mind and it appears in the form of a question or two:

 “Does anyone really care if I write or publish a post?”

“Does anyone take the time to bother reading?” 

At times the questions are answered by a silent, but insidious voice – “No”.

When I hit the bump in the road as I did the past few weeks, it is difficult to get back in the rhythm of doing what I believe I am called to do.

It is much easier to cave into putting off getting back to it or excusing it out.

In his book, Do The Work, Steven Pressfield, refers to an enemy within which he refers to as The Resistance.  It is bent on keeping you from doing work you love or are called to do.

He describes it this way:

“There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is enormously powerful. It saved my life, and it will save yours.”

Am I the only one that visits Castaway Island or do you also encounter something, anything similar intended to hold you back from something you are called to do, born to do, want to do?

Whether you are getting back to something you started or doing something for the first time an inner fear makes a grand attempt to keep us from moving forward.

Fear plays games with our head.

It sounds something like this:

• “You’re not good enough.”
• “What you do does not matter.”
• “No one is paying attention.”
• “What do you have to offer?”
• “Why bother?”
• “You are going to look and sound stupid.”

If the song sounds familiar check out the following clip of a young girl attempting her first ski jump.  I know the winter is over and none of us want to be reminded of it in visual form.

Pretend there is grass, strap yourself to her skis, and experience the freedom she found in doing something she wanted to do.

What is the secret?

It is simple – take a step.

One step.

Experience the magic that follows.

Instead of stepping away from what you desire and scoring a win for The Resistance why not try taking that first step or starting over again?

Although I told you I missed connecting with you at the outset of this post, part of me did not want to take the time to sit down and write anything tonight – it has been a long day with lots of stuff happening.

I had to silence that voice and get back in the groove.

I had to write.  Anything.  Something.

“Will it be read?”

“Will it mean something to someone?”

The jury is out on that.

I did what I had to do tonight.

The risk is most definitely worth the reward!

What is going on in your world where one step, one small step, will help you gain momentum towards the larger task at hand?

Whatever it is take the step, drive away your fears, and watch how The Resistance is silenced.

You are welcome to share your thoughts in the comments.  Thanks for listening!