Fear of being seen is my Achille’s heel. I would say, this is the case for many creators out there. The struggle is challenging when there’s so much to say and little courage to speak to a camera or share thoughts on any digital platform.
My personal journey had rough start. In my university days, where I participated in a classroom exercise that left a mark.
Each student stood before the class in complete silence while their peers anonymously wrote down impressions on slips of paper. Later on, the individual standing would get them to gain insight into perceptions and reflect on their accuracy.
For me, the experience was excruciating. Standing there for two minutes felt like an eternity. I remember my teacher reassured me: “Don’t worry, Alice, it’ll be over soon.” Honestly, I don’t know how I managed to endure those moments. It was evident: I was afraid of being seen.
Most of the comments I received pointed that out: “she’s clearly uncomfortable with attention”. “She seems to be struggling badly.” “She seems to keep a lot to herself”. However, there was one comment that caught me off guard: “You may seem uncomfortable with attention, but you have a lot to say, and you know it.”
I kept that piece of paper. It was a powerful revelation: Someone saw through my exterior, and it shocked me. I recognized this person’s handwriting. It belonged to a classmate who worked with me for a previous team assignment. Although he barely knew me, he noticed the depth of my thoughts expressed through my ideas.
It’s because of that comment that I eventually got the courage to emerge from my shell when platforms like Blogger and Twitter started blooming. They offered endless possibilities to voice opinions and share creations. Throughout the years, I’ve done my best to tackle my fear of being seen. One of my most recent accomplishments is making videos and talking to the camera from time to time.
@alicestrathernauthor Thinking of all recent graduates out there. I’d love to share a little bit of my own experience through this bookrec. I wish someone would have told me this when I was a recent graduate! #booktok #indiebooktok #indiebooks #summerreading
There comes a time when you’ve got to respond to your creative call. You just know when you have something to say that hasn’t been discussed enough. It’s unbearable to keep it all to yourself. It’s a feeling that won’t go away, even if you’re afraid of being seen.
If you think about it, your favourite creators, who now have an established voice, once had that fear, too. One day, though, they decided to start writing or recording themselves to share their views. As time went by, they found their audience. They found you.
So, have a topic that’s not widely discussed? Share it through a blog post, a video, or audio file. Start small with the conviction that your voice can spark new conversations. It doesn’t matter if your idea doesn’t feel “new”. Your perspective is important. So don’t be afraid of being seen through it.
Maybe it causes controversy, and that’s actually the point. Lately, I’ve noticed that “unpopular opinions” and “hot takes” are getting more common on social media. It’s refreshing to have a wide range of perspectives; otherwise, life turns black and white. Picture it this way: You, as a unique creator, are here to paint the world with your own palette.
I’ve felt inspired to take baby steps with one of my “hot takes”. I hear there’s people who are able to devour hundreds and hundreds of books per year. In my case, I decided to set a goal that better fits my lifestyle and put it on record:
@alicestrathernauthor Here’s the number of books I’m planning to read this year. Plus some thoughts on going at your own pace. Reading is for pleasure, not competition. #readinggoals #booksbooksbooks #bookworms #toread #bookwormstruggles
While my video is not necessarily breaking the Internet, the sentiment is there: this is my take and I own it.
As you face your fear of being seen, consider expressing what’s on your mind unapologetically. Your perspective may or may not cater all audiences. Dare to be seen for who you really are. You are part of the butterfly effect, believe it or not. As you create, make sure you don’t hold anything back.
What are your hot takes?
We need them.