16. Facing the fear: the power of showing
A vivid artwork of a scared man
When I first considered starting a blog, I was overwhelmed by fear. The idea of exposing my personal thoughts to the world felt like standing naked in a crowded room. Would I write the wrong thing? Would people judge me? The fear of writing poorly was so intense that I almost quit before even starting.
But as I wrestled with these fears, I came to understand something fundamental about storytelling—whether in writing or in life. The best stories are not those that simply tell us what happened; they show us. They paint vivid pictures with words, pulling the reader into the experience rather than just relaying facts.
This realization struck me while watching the musical Hamilton. In the song “Burn,” Eliza expresses her heartbreak not by stating that she is devastated, but by describing the palaces and cathedrals her husband built for her with his words. Those images lingered with me, much like the fears that once held me back from blogging.
In writing, as in life, it’s better to show than to tell. But showing requires vulnerability—it’s about opening up, revealing the raw and unfiltered emotions, and allowing others to see the world through your eyes. This is where my initial fear came from. I feared that I wouldn’t be able to convey my thoughts in a way that others could connect with—that my attempts to "show" would fall flat.
However, just as Eliza’s vivid descriptions transformed her emotions into something tangible, I realized that my fears could become the very thing that made my writing powerful. By confronting and understanding my fears, I could use them to create a blog that truly resonated with readers.
So, why did I start blogging? Because I learned that the act of showing—of creating those palaces and cathedrals with my words—is worth the risk. Writing isn’t just about conveying information; it’s about making others feel what you feel. And if I can do that, then all the fear and vulnerability are worth it.
The reference artwork
