Diving in

I find this Pot-Shot extremely helpful today. I don't know if any of you remember seeing these in the weekday comic section in the paper. When I was in middle school, I used to cut them out, paste them in a notebook and keep them on a shelf in my room.

Lately I've been applying for writing jobs, but sometimes I'm my own worst enemy. I'll talk myself out of even throwing my resume out there because it's old,  and doesn't list enough experience. And all of my published clips are four years old. Within five minutes of constructing a cover letter, I start thinking I have no business even thinking I can apply for any job.

Whoever said we are our biggest critics nailed it. I don't know what it is that makes it so hard to overcome ourselves. Maybe it's the fear of rejection, and the thought that throwing yourself out there might not work. It feels easier to save yourself the heartbreak, and leave those starred e-mails about job opportunities in your inbox rather than face them head-on.

But ultimately that doesn't solve anything. Job postings disappear, and you're left with another missed opportunity gnawing at you. Sometimes it's better to leap without looking, and rely on the faith you can find in yourself.

I guess it's time to dive in.