Now I Love the Uncertainty of Freelance Writing

It is mind blowing the difference that a change of perspective can make to my world. It is now obvious to me that most (maybe all) of my problems have been due to a faulty worldview. A perfect example of this would be my freelance writing career. This is a fine demonstration of where my perspective on how things should be put me on a collision course with reality. I’ve got enough bruises and scars to know that I will never be victorious in this type of encounter, and that it is only by bringing my perspective in line with reality that the collision can be avoided. I’ve altered my relationship to freelance writing, and this has made all the difference.

Freelance Writing Meltdown

If you read my posts regularly you might remember that I had a bit of a meltdown last year because of my financial situation. I’ve worked as a freelancer for over three years, and things were going great until a few months ago – I went overnight from turning down high paying gigs to struggling to find work. I managed to keep paying my bills, and putting food on the table, but the realization of the uncertainty of my future almost pushed me into a deep depression. Up until that point I’d worked under the assumption that my writing career could only take me to bigger and better things. It rocked my world to find out that I could be so close to failure. It felt so unfair – poor me.

I can now see that my freelance writing meltdown had very little to do with the actual events on the ground. The reason for why I became so overwhelmed and depressed was the stupid idea that I was somehow entitled to a level of financial security that nobody gets to enjoy. Life is inherently unpredictable and nobody is exempt from the possibility of losing it all – look at all those people in the US and Europe who worked hard all their lives and now have lost their jobs and their homes. It is not hard to imagine how even somebody like multi-billionaire Warren Buffet could end up without a pot to piss in. Freelance writing is a notoriously fickle business so my expectations of financial security were so naive that they were almost risible.

I Love the Uncertainty of Freelance Writing Because I am a Monster Slayer

In another post on here last month I discussed my solution to financial insecurity and worry. I’ve completely changed my perspective on things and what a difference this has made. I no longer view the uncertainty of work as a freelancer as a drawback, but as the best thing about it. I have become a hunter, and I thrive on the risk and excitement involved in my work. It means that even projects that I once considered a bit tedious have become monsters for me to slay. My job is simple, I get up each day to do battle, and if I hunt hard the chances are that I will survive for another day. Some days are easier than others but my job remains the same. I no longer fear my future because I want the opportunity to prove that I’m a heroic monster slayer.