My personal journey
Luciana Soares
What inspired me to start writing:
When
I arrived in the United States, I was full of expectations and
hopes for a new life. However, an unexpected turn of events
completely changed the course of my plans. Just a week after
my arrival, the world was caught off guard by the COVID-19
pandemic, and countries around the globe went into
quarantine.
Amidst the chaos and
uncertainty surrounding the world, I found myself isolated, far
from friends and family. It was in this moment of solitude
and introspection that the seed of inspiration began to sprout
within me.
I decided to channel my
emotions and personal experiences into something positive and
meaningful. As a passionate writer, I realized I had a unique
opportunity to create something that could bring comfort and hope
to others amid the darkness that surrounded us.
Thus was born the idea
of writing a novel that explored the essence of humanity in times
of crisis. I wanted to show the world that each person is
unique and carries a unique story that shapes their identity.
I wanted to celebrate the diversity of experiences and emotions
that make us who we are.
As the words flowed
onto the page, my novel took on a life of its own. Complex
and captivating characters emerged, each with their own personal
journey and struggle. Through their intertwining stories, I
explored themes of resilience, compassion, and empathy.
More than ever, the
pandemic has made me realize the importance of connecting with each
other on a deeper level. Despite the storms that arise in our
lives, I firmly believe that we can still choose to understand and
support each other.
Writing this novel was
my way of sharing that message with the world. It was my way
of spreading a ray of hope in dark times and reminding all of us
that, together, we can overcome any challenge life throws at
us.
My challenges along the way and how I overcame them:
Writing has always been a passion for me, a way to express my ideas
and bring to life characters and stories that inhabit my
imagination. However, over the years, I discovered that my
greatest adversary was not outside of me, but inside: my own
relentless self-criticism.
From
the beginning, I have always been demanding and relentless with
myself. Every word, every sentence, every paragraph had to be
perfect. I found myself stuck in an endless cycle of writing
and rewriting, never satisfied with the result. I believed I
could always improve, that I was never good enough.
This
extreme perfectionism consumed me. I spent hours on end in
front of the computer, obsessed with achieving a standard of
excellence that always seemed beyond my reach. The pressure I
put on myself was overwhelming and eventually left me exhausted and
discouraged.
It
was only when I realized that this relentless self-criticism was
keeping me from progressing that something changed within me.
I realized that we are often harder on ourselves than we are on
others. While I admired the work of other writers and praised
them for their achievements, I mercilessly criticized myself for
every little mistake.
It
was a moment of epiphany for me. I understood that, to move
forward, I needed to give myself a chance. I needed to
believe in myself and recognize my own abilities. I decided
to let go of paralyzing perfectionism and embrace imperfection as
part of the creative process.
It
was a challenge, without a doubt. But, little by little, I
learned to free myself from the shackles of self-criticism and
embrace my own voice as a writer. I accepted that what
matters is not perfection, but rather the authenticity and passion
I bring to every word I write.
With
this new mindset, I was finally able to complete my first
book. It's been a journey full of ups and downs, but each
obstacle I've overcome has made me stronger and more confident in
my abilities as a writer. Today, I look back with gratitude
for having found the courage to give myself a chance and move
forward, even when the voice of self-criticism tried to stop
me.
Over time I learned:
During the process of writing my book, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery that led me to deeply understand the difference between real and imagined fear.
Initially, my mind was dominated by an imaginary fear that manifested itself in a sabotaging and paralyzing way. I was afraid of making mistakes, I was afraid of criticism, I was afraid of success. Someone once told me that it seemed like I was afraid of success, and it resonated within me, triggering deep reflection on my fears and insecurities.
However, it was during this writing process that I began to see beyond the self-imposed barriers of imaginary fear. I realized that the fear of the unknown, the fear of criticism, and the fear of failure were just constructs of my own mind, not real threats.
It was then that an important revelation emerged: the perfect is within the imperfect and the imperfect within the perfect. I learned that the incessant search for perfection is a trap that prevents us from moving forward. Accepting our own imperfection and recognizing the intrinsic value in our failures frees us from the yoke of fear.
By understanding this fundamental truth, I realized that the key to overcoming fear lies in believing in ourselves and our potential. Only when we recognize our own capacity and allow ourselves to be vulnerable can we truly move towards our goals.
Finally, I understood that anything is possible when we stop being distracted by unfounded worries and fear of rejection. By freeing our minds from these self-imposed limitations, we make space for creativity to flourish and for new possibilities to manifest.
These lessons I learned along my writing journey have not only transformed my approach to writing but also my perspective on life. Now, I embrace the creative process with courage and confidence, knowing that the only real obstacle is the fear we choose to allow to hold us back.