I have been observing my brain in the week leading up to my book being published tomorrow. Why does it treat me so harshly – making me anxious and stopping me from sleeping?
I am crystal clear on why I wrote this book – I have something to say. Over the last 30 years or so I have learnt a lot of lessons and I want to share these. I am proud of the book. I invested hundreds of hours of early morning time writing it and I really hope people will read it.
So why am I so scared?
All week I have been asking myself:
- Will anyone read it?
- Will I get laughed at?
- Will I get bad reviews?
- Will anyone come to the launch party?
Oh why do I care about this so much?
Well the answer is of course this is a classic brain conflict!
My ‘Human Brain’ – the prefrontal cortex – the logical, rational, thinking part – has a well made plan. It decided in calm logical moment about three years ago – ‘you want your message to be heard so write a book and get as many people as possible to read it’.
My ‘Animal Brain’, the much older limbic system which doesn’t understand rational thinking has other ideas – it’s only job is to keep me safe and loved. It screams ‘don’t expose yourself in this way’, ‘stay safe – stay quiet’ ‘people will judge you’.
In my book I have been honest and open – telling the story of some of my best and worst moments as a leader – and exposing some vulnerable parts of myself to the world. I have presented myself for judgement.
It is taking all my courage to override my limbic system and get on with promoting the book.
This time my Human Brain wins!
If you want to buy a copy of my book Lynne’s Laws of Leadership on Amazon – click here.
