Dare to Be Bold - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dare to be bold by Matt Cheuvront
Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Next to Resistance, rational thought is the artist or entrepreneurs worst enemy. Bad things happen when we employ rational thought, because rational thought comes from the ego. Instead, we want to work from the Self, that is, from instinct and intuition, from the unconscious.

A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. Its only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” - Steven Pressfield, Do the Work

The idea of “being realistic” holds all of us back. From starting a business or quitting a job to dating someone who may not be our type or moving to a new place – getting “real” often means putting your dreams on hold.

Today, let’s take a step away from rational thought and dare to be bold. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle.

The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?

My response:
I've always wanted to be a great writer, a prolific writer. I've wanted my words to be read and cherished by millions. I've always thought it would be great to go to a bookstore and see my name on the cover and my face on the inside of the book jacket. Alas, I have not made the time. I think my plan for becoming a great writer is simply to write, practice writing, and write some more. I think it is making the time to write, listen to the words rumbling in my head and put them down on paper, and silencing the censor within me. If I wrote freely and often, I might meet my goal. (I do know that these prompts have got my juices flowing.)