Up and Out of the Easy Chair by Pamela Mytroen

Are you considering a daunting project? Afraid to exit your comfort zone? The worst part is thinking about it and wallowing in fear.

Three fears I face as I consider proposing a column for our newspaper: 

1). I am afraid that people will think I am being self-important, self-aggrandizing, or just plain weird. I am afraid I will lose their respect and friendship.

2). I am afraid that I will not honour God or help anyone.

3). I am afraid that I will fail.

Three Questions to understand fear

1). Why am I considering this project? Is it to hammer somebody over the head with truth, to showcase a shiny talent, or is it to bring light to darkness, and a stream to the desert?

2). Will this honour God? Does it line up with Scripture? Will it help people? In what way will it help people spiritually, practically, emotionally, intellectually, or socially?  

3). How will I recognize failure and/or success? Failure happens when we do not reach our goals (or when we do not learn anything from not having met our goals!).  

Eight Steps to help me move forward: 

To envision success, we need to set some goals. For example, here are my goals if I would like to propose a column in my newspaper:

A)   Pray and read God’s Word for wisdom and guidance. Write it down.

B)   Write three sample columns, about 350 words each that will bring light, truth, hope and a little humour to the readership.

C)   Share them with three godly people to get feedback. Do they affirm or not? Adjust writing based on feedback.

D)   Set a date to have seven more columns finished (Kathleen Gibson suggested I write a total of ten to show my editor) and a date to propose the column with the editor.

            F) Write seven more columns and a proposal. Meet with the editor, and                            adjust writing based on feedback.   

            G) Publish

            H) Evaluate based on feedback.  Did readers learn any godly truth? Did they feel enlightened or more hopeful?

            I) Continue praying, reading God’s Word, and writing, based on the feedback. 

             

Once I look at my goals, I see that the daunting task can be taken one step at a time.  Like Sandy Somers said in an earlier blog, the first step to see a harvest is to set the plow in the ground. I can do that. I can start with one step.

How do you feel when you consider an intimidating project? What steps help you move from the easy-chair to the battlefield?

Pam Mytroen