on accepting ourselves

natalie goldberg writes (on accepting ourselves as writers) in wild mind:

Write the truth. And remember what I whispered in that kid's ear at the beginning of the chapter: "Keep going. You're doing fine. Don't think. Don't cross out." Develop a "sweetheart" inside yourself who whispers in your ear to encourage you. Let's face it. You who have created the editor are also capable of creating the sweetheart, that kind coach who thinks what you do is fine. "But what I do isn't fine." Says who? The editor? Have you murdered anyone in the last day, week, month, year, decade? Probably not. Then don't worry about it. Give yourself a break. You're probably a really fine person. Call up the sweetheart and let him or her give you some compliments.

i loved this part. writing is hard, and unless we're in 'the zone' when we're writing without thinking and fully immersed, we're constantly worried about the quality of our writing. (yes, another one of those occasions where we worry constantly about being good, when all it would take to be good would be to not worry at all!) but no matter what it is we do - write, dance, sing, act, be - the editor remains. if we are mindful of it, we will see how desperately it tries to take over our lives. all the greater the need for the sweetheart. let it live and die with the editor. it will aid us towards understanding and accepting ourselves better. until such time that the inner consciousness has found its voice that can stand on its own - editor or no editor, sweetheart or no sweetheart.