Pages

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Fear of being Known.

It took a lot of persuasion from some folks before I finally started this blog. I was unsure of opening a blog because that meant a wider audience. I was very content with remaining under the shadow and honestly, I didn't think I was good enough. Neither did I think anyone would read the blog. So, whenever people told me then to start a blog instead of mailing my articles to some friends, I always gave excuses. Flimsy excuses, I must say but, I finally mustered up the courage to start a blog. I told myself: "There is no harm in starting a blog, I enjoy writing and no I'm not doing it for anyone so you don't have to read or like it, maybe my blog might help someone." Well, I told myself that but still had to be pushed. When I finally decided to start the blog regardless of my irrational fears was when a friend said something cliche. He was like, "you are a good writer and you should stop comparing your writings to those of others. Besides, you should be confident about yourself and really if you need people to push you, maybe you shouldn't start the blog afterall". I think he said that last sentence intentionally cos he knew it would invoke me.

Thinking of it, all my irrational fears can be summed up into one. I was and still am scared of being discovered and being known. That would mean my flaws can be known by more people, my thinking pattern can be known by more people, I'm open to more criticisms ( I mean, we Nigerians criticise more than we praise). In the same way, some people I know are scared of succeeding. I never understood why someone would be scared of succeeding. I'm more used to hearing people say " I'm scared of failing and dissappointing whoever". So, it was really strange hearing people say the opposite but, now I think I can explain it to my best understanding. People are scared of succeeding because they are scared of being discovered and then failing. They prefer to remain inside the shell because then they don't have people looking at them or up to them. Then, they have less people to disappoint and less hopes to dash. When you are successful in whatever field you are, you become more people's role models and well, you have more people waiting for you to fail. So, you put in the extra effort and try to climb the ladder faster so those at the bottom of the ladder won't pull you down. Then the possibility of failing becomes more surreal and you cannot afford to fail because there are consequences. Even people that don't know you but have heard of your success will open their big mouths to talk. On the other hand, if you are average or not succeeding enough to be discovered, you are more like the only master of your fate. You can afford to fail or whatever because you know it affects a few. You have less/no competitors......

Most business organizations, schools or whatever like to introduce competition amongst their staff or students. That will mean better creativity, productivity , profit and well, success. This is because each person is striving to be better than the other. In my opinion, I think its okay to be scared of succeeding cos you are scared of failing. Ofcourse, being afraid of being discovered doesn't mean you shouldn't succeed. You can be known and still be the "you" you were before being known. Maybe even a better "you". Subsequently, the fear of failing should not dissolve although you shouldn't let it be so much that it will stop you from succeeding. Fear of failing ensures you always put in your best effort. Exposure to more competition ( as people will always want to compete with a successful person) means you can increase your productivity and be better than yourself. People waiting for you to fail gives you the extra courage and determination not to end up as a "laughing stock". Finally, people looking up to you gives you this sense of pride and worth and this serves as an incentive not to fail. So I'm daily overcoming my irrational fear of starting a blog cos people will always talk. Its just up to you to decide whether or not you want to listen.

2 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is inspiring. Olamide Odiahi

    ReplyDelete

Please share what you think about the article/story you just read. Slante!