Editor’s Choice — Top 10: Crippled by Procrastination, Feelings of Panic, Self-Loathing, and Inadequacy

Let’s visit our top 10 stories today

I love to read quotes. But reading this one by Robert De Niro about the mind of a writer seemed familiar:

“The mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing. Isolated, neurotic, caffeine-addled, crippled by procrastination, consumed by feelings of panic, self-loathing, and soul-crushing inadequacy. And that’s on a good day.” ~ Robert De Niro

It seemed familiar because I am living in this mind for some time now. I cannot write if I am not alone. Franz Kafka said that he needed to be alone to write. “I need solitude for my writing; not like a hermit — that wouldn’t be enough — but like a dead man.”

I suffer long and unpredictable bouts of feeling low. Nothing seems to work to energize me in those states of mind. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat Pray Love, says in her TED talk, “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll never be a success? Aren’t you afraid the humiliation of rejection will kill you? Aren’t you afraid that you’re going to work at this craft your whole life and you’re going to die on this crap heap of broken dreams with your mouth filled with bitter ash of failure?”

What about procrastination? Oh. Don’t even ask. I can read ten articles, three research papers, and two books to research a topic and then procrastinate until I forget the fine points of all that research.

Panic is my old friend. Whenever I had a panic attack, I thought I had a heart attack. Then I read Paulo Coehlo’s Veronica Decides to Die and found that I was panicking all of the time. Existential dread is a better word.

I have thought so much about self-love that I have forgotten about self-loathing. But there was a time when I thought everyone else was better than me, and I was the most pathetic human ever created.

Every writer feels the soul-crushing inadequacy — pretty much every day. That is why we want to write. That is why we want to say something that makes sense to someone or ourselves later on. Our work is the only thing that can make us feel adequate. We want to be understood. We want to be loved.

Robert De Niro is right when he says that the mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing.

But this is where writers forge ideas, refine thoughts, create stories, and try to define the undefined nature of humans to a degree. Writers are people who build tools for our minds to learn, understand, and grow.

A writer’s mind is a place where all the omens of bad times to come first arrive. A writer tells you, from personal experience, things you should avoid. Writers may not be prophets who can tell you what to do, but they sure can tell you what not to do.

So, don’t look inside a writer’s mind. It is a workshop — a work in progress.

Look at the beautiful things these minds create for you to enjoy.

Here is a list of our top 10 stories today — by writers with terrifying minds but who know how to craft a great story:

10. Making Rainbows in the Shower

Reylia Slaby is a Fine Art photographer, writing about her love for creating, and how others can use art in their lives.

She is a fine writer. Her writing style is casual, conversational, and fun. She is writing about her photography experiments. It was fun to read. Do check it out.

Today I found myself outdoors, and immediately regretted it. A month ago, we had three weeks straight of the rainy season, with every day pouring bucket after bucket of rain. At the same time, it cooled the whole of the country. I felt that summer was over, and I could feel the crispness of autumn begin to cover us like a linen sheet.

9. Are Extreme Sports Only for Those Who Crave Adrenaline?

Florin Marchis. Digital marketing specialist from Romania, writing about nature, technology, self-improvement, spirituality, marketing, relationships, and travel.

He is a good writer. His style is full of suspense and insights. Do check his other work.

You don’t know how big or small your universe can be until you try to expand it at the cost of your own security. What I mean is to try extreme sports.

There are people who could live without even trying to do more than they think they can. They may never try rock climbing, rappelling, bungee jumping, and other activities that are practiced by people who crave adrenaline. I was one of them until something happened.

8. Improve Your English by Learning Foreign Languages

Rory Cockshaw writes about science, philosophy, and society. Occasionally he writes about whatever else takes his fancy.

He is one fine writer. His writing style is simple, free-flowing, and informative. Don’t forget to read this piece.

I can still remember the world as it used to be, back when it was in only one language.

Since the age of 14, when I first fell in love with a foreign language (Dutch), I’ve been pushing myself to learn more, and more, and more. And my world just opened up.

7. Transparency and Accountability Comes to Bakersfield Police Department

EP McKnight, MEd. Actress, Stage playwright, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Teacher Fitness Coach.

She is an excellent writer. Her writing style is easy to follow, logical, and engaging. Do check her other work.

Around the country, several attorney generals are stepping up to the plate demanding much needed change to their police system that is wreaked with lots of injustices, racism, and excessive use of force.

6. 543,018 People Went Missing Last Year

Arthur Keith says, “My life in the context of 20th-century history and pop culture — infused with a dose of fun (where appropriate!) More to come when I get my sea legs on here.”

He is a fine writer. His writing style is well researched, full of suspense, and very engaging. Sometimes, we don’t know these things until someone like him points out that 543,018 people went missing last year.

You know how everyone is shocked when they find out something terrible has happened in their neighborhood? This is one of those stories. Elmhurst, Illinois, is an idyllic suburb of Chicago where nothing terribly bad ever seems to happen. But, unfortunately, that adds a level of darkness to this disappearance.

5. Why Are Clothes Made For Plus-Sized Women So Ugly?

Ruby Lee is a mother, wife, teacher, librarian, and teller of Stories. Author of The Marriage Wars.

She is an excellent writer. Her writing style is easy to follow, free-flowing, and engaging. Read this piece and become a fan for life.

No plus-sized woman plans to be plus-sized. Many of us start ours lives thin and gradually put on a few pounds here and there. Then, one day we realize that our weight has gotten out of control.

Once the truth hits us, we start to diet. Some of us are successful, but quite often, a lot of us are not.

4. The Movie Memories that Shaped My Life

anniewood is a former dating game show host. Current Author, TV/Film/VO Actor & Artist.

She is a fabulous writer. Her writing style is unique, engaging, and awesome. Don’t miss this one and check her other stories.

What I watched with you. All of you. The yous of my life.

I remember the scenes so vividly. All I have to do is press pause again and rewind and it will play for me in vibrant Technicolor and classic black and white.

3. Anne and the Pear Tree

Toni Crowe is a sarcastic escaped executive. Best-selling author. She writes whatever she wants (Her words).

She is a wonderful writer. Her writing style is charming and full of suspense. If you like fantasy, you’ll love this story. Also, check her other work.

Anne was a little girl when she learned not to talk about her tree with adults. No one believed the four-year-old when she told them the tree tickled her fingers. Tickling was what she called it when she was small. Now she knew the tingling sensation was the tree’s way of letting her know it was alive and that it was her tree.

2. How Your Energy and Ability Can Help You Climb to Become a Two Percenter

Bill Abbate is a leadership writer and editor of Illumination. He is a leadership/executive coach as well.

His writing style is simple, logical, and full of wisdom. He explains everything beautifully until the reader feels satisfied and ready to implement his insights in his or her life. Follow him and read his work.

How much effort do you put into your work? How would you even measure such a thing? With each workplace and individual so unique, the best we may be able to do is take a SWAG (silly wild-a** guess) at it.

One such person happened to be one of the wealthiest people in history. I can find no studies that back up his statement and suspect he was generalizing. His thoughts are interesting and provide a framework for understanding energy and ability (our capacity to work) and the results created.

1. An Analogy to Calm You When Your Ego Gets Triggered

David Gerken is a meditation and mindfulness teacher. He is a dad of three precious kids and a former writer for THE WEST WING.

He has 48000 followers at this time — and the number is growing faster and faster.

He is an accomplished writer. His writing style is easy to understand, engaging, and elegant. Don’t miss this great piece. Also, check his other work.

What do most of us mere mortals do when our egos get stirred up? We jump in and get involved in it.

What do I mean by this? Let’s take a simple example. Your spouse/significant other struts into the kitchen as your eating breakfast, looks at the sink, then says,

“I see somebody didn’t do the dishes last night. What a surprise…”

This post is part of the Top 10 Series — you can meet 500+ top writers with these links:

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Final Thoughts

If your story was selected in the Top 10, please share another story with a brief introduction and a short convincing review — in the comments. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the great articles.

Please join our private Facebook group for Illumination writers to post your articles daily. Also, I invite you to become a writer for my publication — positive minds.

Iꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴀɴʏ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇ, ᴛʏᴘᴏ, ᴏʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇʀʀᴏʀ, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. Tʜᴀɴᴋs.

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You can read my curated stories here.