Overcome Your Fear of Pushing Publish

If you fear putting your work out into the world then you’re not alone.

Only two years ago the thought of putting pen to paper, so to speak, made my pulse race.

As someone who has spent years behind the camera, I felt awkward writing. And the advice, just write how you speak, spun me into a mini-depression. For someone who feels self-conscious sharing ideas even when talking, that advice was more harmful than helpful.

These days my problem with writing isn’t as much about putting words to paper.

It is my fear of pushing publish.

Maybe you can relate. Have you ever written a blog post but then one month, one year, or several years later it is still sitting on your hard drive or to-do list?

Or have you been meaning to share that photo, course, book idea, music piece, painting but you somehow never seem to feel it is ready?

WHY PUBLISHING IS IMPORTANT

My guiding word for 2020 is Intentional, supported by such phrases as time blocking, show up and bring value. Also vegetables, but that is for another goal.

One of my intentions is to show up in my communication. I’ve set goals of sharing articles that inspire artists and entrepreneurs to get out of their comfort zone and share their work.

Publishing is an important part of my communications mix.

So in getting ready to share my first article of 2020, I had done my time blocking which included publishing an article. 

It was day three of 2020 and I decided to publish a blog post I wrote in December but couldn’t get the courage to publish. Although I was feeling that familiar fear of putting my words up on my website, where others could actually read them, I pushed publish.

THAT’S WHEN IT HAPPENS

That familiar feeling of panic which includes nervous energy, a sense of restlessness with an inability to focus on anything specific. I acquire a situational inability to concentrate and go ADHD although in normal life I have a capacity to focus for hours at a time.

Posting the blog online is actually only half of the job of publishing. To finish, I needed to send the newsletter, post it on Facebook, and maybe even send a tweet.

But without an ability to concentrate, I decided to relieve my anxiety by switching into chore mode. I went to pick up a package for a friend and then started researching boot sales for an upcoming trip because I wore out my lovely old winter boots (which were not built to last).

I thought that a short outing would rid my body of the adrenaline rush caused by publishing and allow me to return and make many more glorious advancements on my list so I could feel a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Instead, I was still too anxious to sit back down and work. The newsletter was next on my list but I would have been happy if I could make even a small dent in my interview transcription.

But no. My nervous system wouldn’t have it, even when sleeping.

I WOKE UP AT 3:30 AM FROM A CRAZY ANXIETY DREAM.

I was walking outside on a city street when I hear a bus bomb. Later I go out and witness a man reaching out of a building and piercing a bus with a black box. I ran. When I returned to the scene and spoke to a military officer I was carrying what looked like a black assault rifle picked from the wall of Dr. Phil’s $6 million mansion which I saw on Instagram earlier that day. I was told the incident I witnessed was actually stabbing and three people were injured. Later, in the apartment where I was staying a visiting guest realized that the keys for all of the apartments on our floor were the same. We were not safe. Somehow even after all that I ended up back on the street holding the hand of a six-year-old boy. I encountered a criminal looking man wearing black from head to toe including a black sky mask and was wondering what to do to protect us both when I woke up.

THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY.

I can’t take half a day of nerves or nights of nightmares after each piece of content I send out, especially since my 2020 goal is to send more content out into the world.

Looking back on my last several years I realized that my fear of sharing my thoughts, ideas and work had been the biggest roadblock for all my projects.

Managing my fear of publishing feels like a worthy challenge to tackle.

And in keeping with my word of the year, I am going to do it with intention.

HERE ARE THE STRATEGIES I PLAN TO TRY, INSPIRED BY TACTICS THAT HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST.

1. Post at the end of my day.
   That way if I feel anxious I can sit down with a video or book, take a walk, or do something to unwind without the pressure of getting back to work.

2. Find something to soothe you.
   For me, I am thinking of joining a gym to help get the adrenaline out of my system. This would be excellent because it would help me meet one of my other 2020 goals which is to stay healthy.

3. Sit with my hands in my lap and breathe.
   This is an exercise I learned from Dr Kim D’Eramo. Stop. Sit with my hands in my lap. Breath in and imagine as the breath expands in my belly it goes out beyond my body, beyond the room I am sitting in, beyond the city, and beyond the earth we live on.

4. Get feedback.
   Join a writing group, Meetup group or Facebook group. Hire an editor. Get an accountability partner. Somehow get feedback from someone who knows your intentions, who knows your audience and can be honest and helpful.

5. Know that from experience, it gets easier.
   Doing these new things are somewhat like riding a bike but with a longer learning curve.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

If you fear publishing, know that you are not alone.

The feelings that arise may make you feel embarrassed but they come from the primal brain and are there to protect you. Instead of letting them control you, tell yourself, it is okay to feel this way. Then try one of the strategies I suggested or find one that works for you.

Feel the fear and publish anyway.

If you think this article will be helpful for a friend, share it. People are craving good stories, let’s share something great!