Our doubts are traitors,
and make us lose the good we oft might win,
by fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare
Hey, Lovelies!
As we hurtle towards 2021, I want to remind you of an important truth that I hope you tuck in your back pocket and refer to as needed.
Self doubt will always be a thing.
Can you remember that? It’s important. Self doubt will always be a thing.
There is happy news though. Self doubt has a constantly evolving and shifting focus.
Can you remember back to a time when you first started doing something. Say, driving a car…
When you were first behind the wheel you had to think about EVERYTHING. Your senses were on high alert, your adrenals in overdrive, as you remembered to let go of the handbrake while simultaneously easing the clutch, gently pressing on the accelerator, checking your mirrors, indicating and pulling away from the curb, all while watching for traffic, listening to whomever was teaching you to drive (perhaps even yelling at you!) – and all of this overwhelming amount of stuff all at the same time. Maybe driving was something you worried about, or felt a lack of confidence with, until you got more experienced and the act of driving began to be more automatic.
Eventually driving was hard-wired into you. Without a thought you’d jump in the car, drive to the shops or to visit a friend, all while singing along to the radio or mapping out your plans for the day in your head. Did you think about driving? Actually, no. Not consciously. Was there self doubt? Not a whisper.
Why? Your self doubt had moved on to the next thing where you needed to learn and grow.
If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.
Vincent Willem van Gogh
Self doubt is a moving target. The only way to conquer it is to DO THE THING. Eventually the doubt is replaced by confidence or knowingness. The self doubt then moves to the next thing. It’s a process.
How can you tell if something is REALLY IMPORTANT to you? The self doubt is likely to be crippling.
So? DO the thing.
If we care about something deeply, that self doubt may rear its head again every time we take a risk or put ourselves out there, even if we’ve done it a million times before. Why? We care about the outcome.
If you start to see self doubt as a positive sign, you’re well on your way to overcoming it. Keep that in your pocket for the year ahead.
Love, hugs and waving sparkly sparklers as I dance badly but enthusiastically to cheer you on, Nicole xx
🤣 great dancing image… and, er, yes. I humbly thank you for that clarification. Hearing you loud and clear. The self doubt feels so icky and uncomfortable! I’ll keep doing the thing(s) xxx
You know I wrote this for you, right? Big hugs Mia xx
Your posts often feel that way to many readers, but yes I certainly got that feeling 😁 thank you for hearing me and knowing how to help me work through that icky feeling xxx
I get that icky feeling ALL THE TIME. It’s a good friend now, and I don’t mind it so much because I know what to do to shift it. Get doing!
That should be reassuring for all your readers I’m sure! You’re so good at what you do, hard to imagine you doubting that. Keeping on keeping on! Xx
Bloody awesome post
Joanne, you are the best cheer squad a girl could ask for xx
Thank you, Nicole. I really needed to hear this. It makes sense why those of us who care so deeply have so much self-doubt. I’m sending sparkles back to you.❤
Teresa, you have such beautiful gifts to share with the world. It’s good that you care so much. Vital, actually. Blessings to you and your work xx
Once again – so beautifully written 💚 Thanks Nicole.