Moving Forward with Faith Not Fear
As I prepare to announce the "Release Date" for my debut book later today G-d Willing, I am in the process of adding my "Writing 4 Peace Blog" from 2009 to my "Writing 4 Peace" Website. As I look back on the many posts that I "Saved as Drafts" starting in 2009 continuing into 2011, 2012, and 2014, I realize that one thing is certain, my message has been consistent. I have always had a strong desire to share information that will help myself and others to successfully navigate and overcome the tests and challenges of marriage and motherhood.
Although many posts were never shared, looking back at them, it is as if I had written them today - on the eve of announcing the "Release Date" for
MUSLIM MARRIAGE MAKEOVER: Modeling Muhammad the Prophet to Make Waves in Your Marriage with the R.I.P.P.L.E. Effect.
Often I saved my blog posts as drafts because I was paralyzed by the "fear" of what others would think. However, G-d encourages us not fear the criticism of those who criticize. So this time, I MOVE FORWARD WITH FAITH NOT FEAR. I received a very timely e-mail message in my inbox this morning entitled "The Paradox of the Flawless Record".
In it the author says:
If your work has never been criticized, it's unlikely you have any work.
Creating work is the point, though, which means that in order to do something that matters, you're going to be criticized.
If your goal is to be universally liked and respected and understood, then, it must mean your goal is to not do something that matters.
Which requires hiding.
Hiding, of course, isn't the point.
Hence the paradox. You don't want to be criticized and you do want to matter.
The solution: Create work that gets criticized. AND, have the discernment to tell the difference between useful criticism (rare and precious) and the stuff worth ignoring (everything else).
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2016/09/the-paradox-of-the-flawless-record.html
Whether it's parenting, "Writing 4 Peace", OR being an advocate for social justice, there will always be those who criticize "your" G-d given work. So move forward anyway ... with Faith not fear ... silence the voice of others so that you may hear, internalize, accept and act upon the Guidance of G-d.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
~Marianne Williamson
This time, I'm ready!!! Are you ready?