Authenticity

There's an interesting article in the latest Ode Magazine titled A Writer's Worst Fear by Tijn Touber. Touber's computer "lost" an article he had just finished right before a deadline, and he writes about the emotions and insights he experienced as a result. Here's my favorite part of the article:

"If I write a good article but do it from a place of stress or panic or a need to prove myself, how does it come across to the reader? Exactly: filled with stress, panic and ego . . . Now I don't feel pressure to write any more exquisitely amazing stories, or deliver dazzlingly interesting lectures or even compose fabulous songs. I simply need to bring an awareness to what I do -- a goal of authenticity and truth, not some impossible standard of greatness. The rest will follow."

I needed to be reminded about that -- about authenticity instead of attempting to be great. I often get wrapped up in an impossible quest for the spectacular, when it's probably better just to be myself and do the work that I'm being led to do. Thank you for those words of wisdom, Tijn!