You have ideas. You have stuff you want to get out there. You have stories to tell and things to share. In other words, you have the ability to think. And that thinking is what gives wings to all this wonderful inner-world beauty of yours.
However, there is this thing that happens. We start to share our fledgling inner beauty with others and they start to weigh in. Sometimes this can lead to great conversation and insight, but other times, there is negativity involved (rejection, doubt, and “suggestions” meant to hijack our thoughts).
We started to grow wings, yes, but then negativity clipped them and now we’re stuck on the ground.
See, I started considering all of this recently when I followed a thread on a popular social networking site. A well-meaning person asked a well-intentioned question, and she got all kinds of good advice. This person was thinking about something and other people shared their thoughts on her thought.
But then? Well, then the trolls stepped out from under the bridge and started to attack her thoughts. Violently. Angrily. As the comments scrolled on and on I could see that these negative attacks caused a slipping of momentum. A drag on progress. Just when this woman was starting to take flight, someone would try to pull her down.
Fortunately, the community was strong enough to overcome this, and success happened, but wow….
You see, the ability to think is what gives our ideas wings. The ability to tune out what others think gives us the power to soar. Consider that the next time you create. All the criticism in the world does not take us into the clouds. Taking on others’ thoughts and holding on to them only weighs us down.
Rather, it is our ability to hear, consider, and let go that keeps us light. Keeps us focused. Keeps us free.
Listen to those who have good advice on how to fly straight and true. Hear out those who want your journey’s success. But never ever be grounded by those who have the ability to criticize, but not the courage to fly.