Excuses, excuses

We all make them, and I'm not exception.  My current excuse for not sitting down and putting the words to paper... er... keyboard... the way I should is that I just don't have the energy.  It's not a bad excuse, and not a full lie, since I am pretty tired when I get home from work.  What about days off, you might ask?  Well... I still don't have the energy.

The truth of the matter?  I think I'm afraid.  It's been harder than it used to be for me to sit down and really write.  I've been stressed lately, worried about my financial situation since losing my job, and then worried about messing up when I got a new job.  But, even with those excuses, the truth is that I'm afraid that I'll sit down, start writing, and it won't be any good.  Isn't this a fear that many of us have, at some point?  We go back and reread some of our best stuff, but we also reread some of the worst.  The worst reminds you that you could actually write that bad, at one time in your life.  And the best just makes you go, "Holy cow!  How am I going to top that?"

It's a cumbersome fear to get over.  The climb to the top of that mountain is hard and treacherous, but I've climbed it before and succeeded.  When I reach the top and plant my flag, emblazoned with "Bad Ass Writing Bitch" right up on the top, I feel like I'm the best damn thing in the world.  So, I know I can get up there, I just have to push myself to get there.

Of course, I'll take advice on how to get that trek going.  What are some of your best ways of pushing yourself when you just don't think you can do it anymore?  How do you remind yourself that you have a healthy ego and, damn it, this stretch of tired is not going to keep you down?

And in the vein of asking questions... what are some of your excuses for not writing?