Who am I to think that I could succeed?
I feel like a failure and am afraid. Or maybe I’m just delusional, and the dreams that I have are just fantasies.
I want to write books, create podcasts, teach through webinars, and share what I have to the world.
You’re an impostor. Anything that you’ve tried to do, you fail, or at best, are mediocre. You’ll never amount to anything.
I hear these thoughts in my head. It’s not all the time, but when I’m tired, frightened, and worried, doubt creeps in and tries to convince me to give up on my dreams.
When my kids come to me and talk about their fears about failing in school or other parts of their life, I share my fears with them. I want them to know that adults doubt too. I have fears, and I worry.
I tell my kids stories about how I failed at work, but then I also tell them what I did to get past the problem, how I solved it and moved on. Not all problems have easy solutions, but I believe that there is a way to overcome doubt.
I have written eleven fiction books and two non-fiction ones so far. My dream is to write dozens more.
You suck as a writer. Remember that one-star review you got? You’re wasting your time.
If I listened to the doubt and fear within me, then I would never be where I am today.
I believe that by owning our doubts and fears, sharing them with the world, we become free.
Sure, I might fail at work, with a book, or whatever. I fail at things more times than I can count.
But I get back up. I keep trying. I learn new things. I don’t listen to my doubts and fears.
I think the most important lesson I’ve learned in life is to keep striving toward your goal. For me, that means writing and creating art. The dream has evolved over the years as technology has advanced so that now I create ebooks, print on demand books, I’ve done podcasts and built websites. My creativity is only limited by my imagination.
You’ll never be successful. You suck. You should just shut up and give up and know your place.
When you have such negative thoughts, here’s a trick to help you: Listen to your thoughts and then embrace them. Tell yourself that you love that part of yourself.
Try it, and you’ll see. By giving that weak part of you love, you’re accepting all parts of yourself.
Embrace the doubt and fear, share them with a trusted friend, love that part of your self, and then let it go. Move on and keep reaching for your goal.
One step at a time.
Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.