And thanks – it’s been fun being here.

Thanks so much for your comments, Laurie! I really enjoy your visits to The Writer’s Round-About.

Well, my therapist had me take those negative thoughts, and, starting with the top ten worst offenders, I wrote out a positive affirmation for each one. Then, whenever that thought entered my head, I said that positive affirmation ten times.

In the beginning, I was saying the positive affirmations pretty much constantly, but after a few months or so, it was down to a couple of times a day, and, as an added and huge bonus, it stopped my depression in its tracks, never to resurface.

I’m of the personal opinion that it’s not that one technique is specifically better than another. I’m of the opinion that, if something works for you, then it’s working for you.

Alas, my issue at the moment is actually noticing when I’m having those thoughts. That insideous voice inside my head has learnt to mimick every other voice in my head so I often don’t notice the thoughts at all, even on reflection later, unless I’m particularly paying attention which kind of defeats the purpose.

In the end I think we just keep plugging away at the holes. We might have to grab a bucket and bail from time to time but eventually our holy boat will get us where we want to go, hopefully without sinking.

Fear of success and fear of failure are the two at the top of the list followed swiftly by variations on “I can’t do it!” “I’m not smart enough”. It’s just interesting to me that they’re working under guerrilla warfare rules. Which means I retaliate under guerrilla warfare rules. Like, you know, my editing list. It’s a means of dealing with something that immobilizes me by breaking it down into small chunks. One small chunk at a time I can deal with. The whole entire concept of editing a complete first draft of a novel I can’t. I’ve actually gotten quite good at guerrilla warfare in that sense – I’ve learned how to work around at least some of the things that stop me.

But, it also helps having the support that I do in the form of a husband who not only completely believes in me, but also helps me along the way. He’s great at helping me take one step at a time when I need his help.

As a side note, have you tried EFT? Long story short, it would fall under the classification of alternative therapy, and at first glance, will likely look quite hokey to a lot of people, but in my experience, it works rather well. Which, of course, reminds me that I need to use it more…

I’m still in the stages where my fears a glaringly obvious. For the moment the quiet fears can play their roles while I work out the noisy ones.

In a way we’re always going to face quiet fears. They can also be a good element because they are the cautious voice in the back of our heads, “Be careful”, “Prepare”, “Go slowly”. By pushing our boundaries we can go beyond those small fears and with their guidance stay safe doing it.

Thanks for your thought-filled comment, Laurie. You’ve given me a lot to think about too.

The ones that remain are quieter. They hide in the shadows. They’re quiet and calm and disable me before I even get started and before I even realize they’re there. Those ones I’m not sure how to deal with. I mean, keep working towards the dreams and goals, yes. But… Is that enough? I suppose it is – a quiet conquering to match a quiet phobia?

I’ll have to think about this.