Your world is only as limited as you make it.

Should we ever accept that we’re just ‘not that good’ at something we’re passionate about?

I saw a Tweet by another writer (I didn’t catch their name because I didn’t realise the tweet would stick with me like it has) about how they’re resigning to the fact that their writing will never ‘change the world’, and are accepting the fact that they aren’t destined for greatness.

Reading the Tweet made me feel so deflated for them. Should we ever take our passions down off their pedestal and let them sit, instead of pushing them for the stars?

I used to be a perfectionist. I learnt over time that perfect isn’t always actually perfect and aiming for that is only letting yourself down; but I believe your dreams are a whole other thing!

I know my writing isn’t going to change the world either, I don’t have anything published; all I have is a website, and an Instagram with my name on them. But does that mean it’s always going to be that way? Who knows!

I guess the true question is how we do define success?
Does the world need to be changed in order for your writing to be successful?

It’s not very often I bake a cake, but when I do, I always enjoy eating it, and usually the people around me enjoy it too. But would Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry think that cake was as nice as my family do? Probably not. They’d no doubt tell me it looked as though it had been sat on, and Paul would most certainly keep that handshake to himself. But does that mean that my cake was rubbish? Of course it doesn’t! And more importantly, does that mean that everyone in the world would also think my cake was rubbish? The answer is, probably not.

Do I resign myself to thinking I can’t bake cakes and I should never bake a cake again? No, because what a waste that would be. I think much the same to writing: it doesn’t have to change the world as a whole, but it might change someone’s individual world, and that’s worth the risk if you ask me.

Personally, I would rather keep writing, keep enjoying myself and if someone else happens to enjoy it too, then I see that as a bonus.

Now, do I dream of seeing my writing sitting on a shelf in a bookshop? Yes! But if that never happens, am I less of a writer? No. To me, it just means that that never happened, it doesn’t mean I’m not a good writer or that my stories are crap, it just hasn’t happened yet.

It’s like that old saying ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, it’s not down to you to say whether others do, or do not like what ever it is you’re doing. As long as you’re doing it – someone, somewhere is going to enjoy it too! Resigning yourself to ‘well, it’s not that good’ or ‘I’m not going to change the world’ is such a shame.

I whole heartedly believe that if the universe gave you a gift, and you owe it to yourself to indulge in that gift; for yourself and no one else. Anyone else that indulges in it with you is an extra little ‘well done‘ from the powers-that-be.

I believe everyone is capable of achieving absolutely anything they want, and in a really black and white way of thinking, you just need to go and do it.

I’ll be honest, sometimes I’ll have a wobble and think ‘What’s the point?’ too, but you know what, I’ve read some pretty crap books and articles in my time; I read a book once that had page long sentences and no other punctuation! My brain couldn’t get round it enough to enjoy the story, but that book has stuck in my mind all these years – and to put it politely, if that can get published, anything is possible!

Your world is only as limited as you make it. Do yourself a favour and believe the impossible is possible. You’ve got nothing to lose in trying, have you?