brave leaps

Recently I posted a self portrait that felt risky to me, but I wound up being amazed by the effect my personal pronouncement had on others.

The risk I took - that leap?

I made public my deepest held personal desire, that for as long as I can recall I have wanted to be an artist and while it most definitely felt scary as I hit the "make public" button, in the days since I have been asking myself, "why?"

There is no greater satisfaction than taking a risk and succeeding                                                             but so often we don't because we are afraid... of failing... or embarrassing ourselves... or not being taken seriously.. (feel free to insert your personal bugaboo here)

but think about the illogic of that for a moment.

If you are not even willing to say out loud what it is that you most dearly hope to be or do, how will you possibly convince anyone else? How will it ever happen?

So, today I challenge you to be brave and take that leap. Do you have a dream you hold so close that voicing it scares you? Make your declaration today with words or a picture. It's a safe space, and I'm hoping you'll have plenty of company.

And because sometimes even the bravest among us need a little moral support, I'll be sending one of my pocket-sized super heroes out to one courageous commenter.

Peace, love and bravery!

__________________________________________________________________________________

Today's words and images by guest shutter sister, artist, photographer, mother, Deborah Candeub.

Comments

[fhjafhj]

The article is so beautiful, so I feel very good, thought I saw my favorite http://www.topbahsui.com/ the same, thank you of you are very

[Marcie]

My promise to myself - this year - is to 'be brave'. And altho this hardly looks 'risky' or 'daring' - some days I feel that just putting myself out there - is brave:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/2/14/five-lovely-ladies.html

[Valerie]

I used to leave my camera at home if it might get damp or dirty or damaged. I still love my camera and take good care of it, but I feel the need to risk losing it altogether in order to truly enjoy it. This was a leap for me, but I'm grateful I made it.
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/02/farrallon-islands.html

[Caro]

I just want to be a photographer! I got my first proper dSLR camera for Christmas, but now I fear that I will never be able to master it! I am 50 years old, and how I wish I had embarked on this path years ago as now I feel overwhelmed by all I have to learn, so consequently the camera has hardly been out of it's case yet. I fear it may be too late.

[Sherry]

Like most everyone who follows SS I want to include photography in my dream, but would also like to write articles for magazines (mostly non-fiction). Although my blog writing style is different from my formal writing style, I do try to make it typo free and flow. This year I've inched closer to that dream by posting more on my blog, commenting more often on other blogs & participating in photo challenges. Hopefully I'll get there at some point.
http://fromalldirects.blogspot.com/2012/02/black-white-something.html

[Victoria Meadows - Washington Boudoir Photographer]

I recently took this plunge as well, or risk at least. I had a pretty well paying job at the Navy exchange here on the U.S. Navy base. I had been thinking for awhile I had wanted to do the photography studio full time, but with this economy its very scary. I've been doing it for about 2 months now and while I could be doing a lot better I still don't regret my decision!

[Patty]

I would love to teach workshops on contemplative photography, but my fear is that it is enough out of the mainstream that no one would come. I have the curriculum and even the place picked out. I have been receiving some encouragement..... so I am moving forward... slowly... and I wrote about it here: http://nomadicnotebook-patty.blogspot.com/2012/01/questioning-myself.html

[cara]

debbie this is awesome! a double leap. a leap about a leap. you artist, you! ;) xo

[carmen]

It's a big deal, calling yourself something...out loud. I've been a photographer for a long time. Not in the true sense of the word -- I don't make a living at it. I'm not a professional. But I am a photographer. Just these past few months I've begun to call myself "writer". That was a leap. I've been writing for about 5 years now, pretty much everyday. I'm taking classes at the local college and publishing articles in the college newspaper. Sometimes I wonder who I am, how did I get here. I could never have pictured myself doing these things at my age. But here I am. And I think I finally know what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be me.

Good luck to all you who are brave enough to take the leap. Hang in there, I think its worth it.

[k8et]

Oh this is something I always struggle with. Right now, I'm struggling with the idea of whether I want to create a photography business or not - is it my fear holding me back, or is it that it will be a great challenge, require me to behave very differently than what comes naturally (introvert), and possibly ruin my passion for photography? Am I already bored with the idea? (I get obsessed with something, then eventually bored and move on to something else.)

I berate myself for not finishing or following through on dreams, but then I'm just following my heart elsewhere. I may never be a _____, whatever that word is, or I may be it for a short time then move on. I'm a scanner or a renaissance soul according to some authors, but really what does that make me?

I had one moment of clarity that I remember so vividly. I was going to an artist's ball at the inauguration in Washington DC. I wore a costume, I brought my hoop, but I was merely a guest at the event. Security was tight with barricades on the streets, and one guard/policeman called me an artist. I hesitated to accept that term, I think it was the first time I was ever called that as an adult. Creative, yes, but not artist. But then I said screw it. "I am an artist, and my medium is me."

I wish I could bottle that certainty and own it all the time, but unfortunately that's not the case. It's not just the issue of taking the leap and saying I'm _____, but figuring out what the hell that blank is in the first place.

[J Salcedo]

I love this post! I've always heard the saying, "find what you love to do, and then figure out a way to make a living from it." I'd love to be able to find a way to continue my "stay at home" status, but to also bring in some money doing what I love. Photography. I see that a lot of you (us) feel that way. I'm ok with little leaps towards this right now - hopefully will be able to start making money from my photo blog soon. But I am trying to focus on this this year, and hopefully make "my word" for the year be "achieve."

[Staci Kennelly]

This is beautiful. You consistently encourage me to be very brave and wholly myself. Thank you, friend!

[Helene]

Great post! I have nothing to post right now (shhhhhh! I'm at work) but I know the feeling of going public. When I entered a company sponsored exhibit/contest and had 2 photos exhibited, it was such a freeing feeling. It's a big step to have your work out there and have strangers and friends and co-workers judge or comment or critique. Yikes! But we survive! Cool photo!

[Anna]

Hi Deborah,
Love your selfie and yes, to making declarations and taking those risks!
This post of mine, is about embracing personal creativity in all its forms and not listening to a naysayer who found my loves to be "Creative ADD"!

http://vandemarkdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/creative-add.html

[k1000]

thanks to the support of my mondo beyondos, last year I took a tentative step out of the closet. This year I've slammed that darn door behind me and there's no stepping back in. It has opened up a tremendous network of new friends... and there has been so much support from my long-time friends, and family, as I talk to them one by one and figure out this new experience.

[erika]

I love that you took a risk with SP. It really is fantastic and I hope it forces you to leap and get risky all day long!

[Heather]

I surely have been there, so many times for so many different reasons and many I've overcome. Focusing on God's strength in my weakness has brought me places that I'd never think to be or that I could be. I'm always amazed. My BIG thing right now is stepping into a more 'business' style world. I'm a small town girl from Vermont where no one can afford to pay anything for anything and I love to capture priceless moments for people - but I DO NOT want to be a 'business'. God and I are working on that ;) GREAT POST!!! And thank you for the encouragement!!

[Laura Louise]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374947@N04/6766810509/in/photostream

I appreciate your truthfulness, compassion, and courage. It's that first step forward that can seem so daunting and, yet necessary, to live life fully....to come into our own. This is one of the latest street scenes I captured. It feels like an SP for me, though it's not. I feel raw when I look at it...exposed. My deepest desire is to be a photographer and, specifically, to tell the stories of cities and the individuals who often go unnoticed. This might also require me to do some writing (YIKES!!). Thank you for your post today!

[Kelly]

This post is so perfect....saying scary stuff out loud is just that..SCARY....I want to attend a SS camp and This is the year I want to sell at least ONE photo...but i'm getting out there...slowly and surly.
I'd love to win a super hero....he'd go everywhere with me!

[rakusribut]

thank you deborah
your post helped me take a big leap in my photography....
my photos generally have no people in them, because i feel embarrassed and shy about my photography and don't want anybody to see me taking pictures, let alone pose for them
today i went out and saw the fire brigade diving under the ice in the river
i went home wishing i had enough courage to get my camera and capture their energy and endurance
then i read your post
it made me get up, return to the river with my camera and ask the firefighters if i could take some shots
they didn't mind at all, even liked having their picture taken
they also told me a lot about what they were doing
i am really happy with the results of my 'experiment' and posted them on one of my blogs
http://exploringwithmycamera.blogspot.com/2012/02/heroes.html

[Adriana]

So happy to see you here! I Loved this post and even more than that I loved your portrait. =) Not sure I'll be doing any big leaps this year but I am inspired by all of your fellow risk takers!

[Laine]

I can soooo relate! I knew I was an artist and a writer as a child. I wanted so much to be a photographer as well. However, for some reason it felt "shameful" admitting those things. Perhaps some of it was because I held it so dear to my heart that if I voiced it aloud, i felt the dream would shatter. For the last three years, I have been making the dream of being a photographer come true and I'm reconnecting to my inner artist and writer and sharing that little secret too. It feels so amazingly freeing. I am finally allowing myself to be ME. I love it!

[UpGemini]

I did not know I was a brave person until 2005, when I met this guy (my current boyfriend) on the street, while I was taking photos (doh) and he was admiring aligned planets along the river (what?). After that, in a matter of one year, I quit my full-time and unique job, moved out from my comfy, cool flat and crossed an ocean to squeeze with him in a New York shoe box, jobless. So yes, I know what it means taking the leap.
However (you knew this was coming, right?), when it comes to photography and believing in myself... ah, that's a different story! So yes, I would like to aim for the stars a bit more convincingly. I just had my first, little gig, that should be promising, si? :)

[kristin]

i will be leaping into my 40's in a few short days...
i want contentment in this decade.
i want to reap the benefits of hard work i have put into life and my family for us to breathe a little easier this year... that is my wish.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/6877717755/in/photostream

[Limner]

:( Why are they heroes? Where are your super she-roes?

[rakusribut]

look and you shall find....


http://exploringwithmycamera.blogspot.com/2012/02/another-hero.html

where are yours?

[Tracie West]

Oh friend, this is such a great piece and I remember so well your risk, it was the very risk that had me place my risk out for all to see too, it was you who was inspired first by Kristin and then I by you, I love how we all take bits of courage from one another. pst. my red hero is going with me this weekend to cross off another thing on my dream list, I can hardly wait, and you and so many other woman here inspire me to be better to do better and stretch, and yes RISK. I can, I really can.

[Lisa]

I would love to support my family with my art...but there is so much fear to think about it to say it out loud and not scare the living daylights out of my husband. I am lucky to have a job that provides for my family...it almosts feels a little selfish to throw it away, but one day I may take the leap.

[Holly {Soupatraveler}]

oh debbie!!! this is so beautiful! i love all these shots and thank you for the words of encouragement!!!!
xoxoxo

[Anna]

I will LEAP into retirement at the end of this school year and it has been the most exciting, yet scary, thing to actually say out loud. When I finally announced this to my faculty....RELIEF!! Now the next adventure will be to focus on my photography skills. We will see where that takes me. Thanks for sharing your words.

xoxo Anna

[Karen]

When I read the words accompanying your self portrait I was moved to tears . . . such was the strength in which they resonated with me. Some of the comments left on this post have stirred similar emotions. I have been fortunate enough to have been given a few opportunities to take my photography to a new level. Opportunities which had the potential to open up doors for me to earn money from my passion. Self doubt / fear of failure / fear of success / shyness / what the hell ever other 'bugaboo' (to borrow your word) has held me back and I've not capitalised on these situations. I'm not sure how to leap over these self-created barriers, but I'm damn well not going up! Each day as I take baby steps to move closer to authenticity I believe I am gathering the strength to make this leap. Maintaining the strength and inspiration to move forward is easier with the courage and wisdom I find from women like you and the support and encouragement of cyber friends (like-minded, creative souls that enrich my life and my spirit).

[Plantation Shutters]

hi...
at the current time there are different meaning of using the shutters. they may be the beauty symbol or the silencer for the noise.