Even after I
graduated with my Bachelors, I thought I knew what I wanted to do and spent
the next four to five years getting my doctorate in clinical psychology. I was
going to be a therapist. During the
fifth year, I tried something different, something I never considered before
(because of my unease in speaking in front of people): teaching. And I loved
it! I switched majors and ended up getting my doctorate in Educational
Leadership.
Fast forward eight
years, and I'm thinking of a career change again. Maybe it is hobby ADHD.
This time, it’s not even in the same general area, but it is related to my
eventual minor in college. However, this move may mean going back to school for
another degree. The government doesn't really want their money back, do
they?
The thing that's
holding me back is fear. Many of us are afraid of change, because it includes
unknown factors and we're not comfortable with the unknown. Even if our current
lives suck for one reason or another, we're not always willing to change it because
we'd rather deal with known expectations than take a risk. In my personal
experience, risks I've taken have worked out, but every time I'm faced with the
option to try something new, I freeze up again.
Fear is a common
motivator we don't acknowledge all the time. When I ask my students what
motivates them, a lot of them will answer "family." But you know
what? I suggest it's not their family that motivates them, but fear. Fear of
disappointing someone. Fear of losing someone (in the case of not having the
income needed to support a family). This fear is what drives them to come to
class and turn in their work.
Writers
talk about fear, and there's a great video of Elizabeth Gilbert, where she
talks about fear in writing.
The trick is to go on, despite your fear. Take a deep breath, put on your big girl panties, and just do it. What's the worst that can happen? You fail?
Well, there is that.
But I'm also one of
those people that has no regrets. Even my mistakes were learning experiences. I
believe they happen for a reason, and sometimes that reason is simply to make
me who I am today. I like me.
Writing a story when I knew absolutely nothing about creative writing was a risk. Letting other people read my writing is a risk. Sending
my work out to agents and editors is a risk. Going to conferences alone is a
risk. Talking to other authors, editors, and agents at said conferences is a risk.
Letting characters talk me into writing stories outside my normal genre is a
risk. But you know what? I've done them all with pleasant consequences. I've
met some fantastic people, made lifelong friendships, and actually enjoyed doing all these things. If I had the funds, I'd attend every conference physically possible. The writing
risks I've taken by listening to random characters became some of my better
work. I've stretched my creative process by stepping outside my comfort zone.
I urge you to do the
same. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to research Graphic Design schools. *grin*
When have you taken
risks? How'd they turn out?
