The Perfect Life

Today I’m launching a Fearless Writing podcast, both on YouTube and, if you prefer just to listen, on your favorite podcasting apps. I mentioned in an earlier essay that this project required I clean and reorganize my office, a chore I’d been thinking I ought to do for quite a while. That was only step one. The podcast required I do and learn all kinds of things that had nothing to do specifically with writing or coaching or teaching workshops. I’m not a graphic designer, I have no deep interest in video color correction, nor how one gets listed on iTunes.

I have avoided doing many things in my life because, while the result of having done them seemed appealing, the business of getting from start to finish looked overwhelming and tedious. As little as three months ago, if someone had given me my to-do list for this podcast I’d have said, “Forget it,” and exchange that would have left me depressed. I’ve wanted, in theory, to create this for a while. Why wasn’t I? What was wrong with me?

Nothing, of course, but I’m reminded of what it takes to write a book. It’s one thing to say, “I want to publish a book,” it’s another thing to write it. The writing of it is the most important part, and to write one you have to actually enjoy laying down one sentence after another for months or years. In your mind, you may hold the idea of a finished story you’ll get to share with others, that may be the destination which you’re inspired to reach, but the pleasure lies entirely in the daily business of finding the next sentence.

Each of those sentences is an idea. It always feels good when an idea, no matter how small, comes to you. Trying to write when nothing is coming to you, when you’re not plugged in, when you’re distracted or uninspired, is painful and pointless. And impossible, I would add. So too with anything we do. My first job is always to get into the proper, receptive, curious frame of mind. It’s the best frame of mind to be in, and, fortunately, the most productive and successful. I practice being in that frame of mind every time I write. I just finally applied it to creative the podcast.

And what happened? Ideas for how to create and promote it began coming to me. It’s always fun to implement something that has arrived in this fashion. There’s nothing better, really. Yes, I have goals and ambitions for this project, but the real joy has been acting on inspiration. If I had to describe my perfect life, it wouldn’t involve book sales or a house or a vacation or a relationship, but a continuous, unimpeded connection to the source of those ideas. Everything I’ve ever wanted has come from that, after all. In fact, most of the time, when I finally arrived at the destination I so wanted to reach, I hardly notice because I’d so enjoyed getting there.

Check out Fearless Writing with Bill Kenower on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.