It can’t be for other people. It won’t stick.
It can’t be for a response. Sometimes the greatest work goes unnoticed.
It has to be for your own fulfillment. It has to be for the feeling of knowing you poured your very best out, whether it gets an applause or not. Applause is nice of course but is of no importance when it comes to your best work.
We all feel it when we have made our best and when we haven’t. Too often, we put out a watered down version of our best.
The tricky part is presenting your best to others with no hold on the outcome.
You are so right – it is difficult sometimes to put your heart and soul into something and get no response – but if you do it because you know it has value and must be done – and it’s your best – no one can ask anything else.
Ann,
It is hard! But, the great thing is that you just keep trying things till something sticks 🙂
So true Claudia. I always know what I should do but I don’t always give it my best. Maybe it’s laziness, maybe I’m too tired, maybe I know I won’t get noticed-not traits I like to admit. When I do things for the right reasons and without reservations, that’s when I grow as a person. That’s when I feel the best about myself and my purpose in this world.
By the way, loved the book! I know you guys have such an amazing future in more writing and in your life together.
Donna,
Wonderful insights and I appreciate your honesty. You are not alone to be sure, but the important thing is to keep moving. Isn’t it funny when you see some things written down? You look at them and think, really? Is that why I am not doing what I am afraid to do? And then it is easy to do it! It somehow kills the fear or at least lessens it.
And your compliment thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Great post and reminder. We have to be willing to do work we enjoy and are passionate about.
Thanks a lot Dan! It takes guts to be willing…
I think it is important to realize you don’t necessarily have to quit you job to do this – there are opportunities to shift your thinking in this way right where you are.
Definitely Tom!