“If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”
― Vincent Van Gogh
I've got a question that (I hope) will get the cogs in your head spinning. You ready?
What if the only thing standing between ourselves and where we want to be is Self-Doubt?
As in, the only worthy opponent that stands between where you are right now and all the goals/dreams/aspirations you have for yourself, is Self-Doubt?
Do you reckon believing this would help us find the courage we need to step into the black cloud of Doubt and wriggle our way through to the other side? It's an interesting thought.
One of Self-Doubt's strengths is it continues to fuel itself, Doubt fuels Doubt. The longer we stand and look at the Black Cloud, the more ominous it appears.
So what if Self-Doubt was really the only thing we have to conquer?
If almost any other challenge could be faced? No matter other struggles and obstacles may wait for us on the other side of the cloud, we had the resources needed to face them. I believe this to be true.
We are gifted with BOUNDLESS amounts of Creativity, Imagination, Energy, Determination, Strength. Boundless amounts. We have access to all we need to Succeed if only, we first move through doubt...
Edmund Hillary captures this perfectly when he said 'It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves'. He should know, Hillary was the first person to climb Mount Everest.
But this Big black cloud is a cunning foe.
Once I feel Ready/Confident/Able, then I will ...
This may sound like 'Once I feel Confident I will ask the hottie in my office our for a drink'.
Or, 'Once I feel Confident I will take that trip I've always wanted to'.
But how exactly do we expect to do that, I mean, feel more Confident about doing the things we want to do? How do we actually plan to conjure up such feelings?
Do we even know?
My theory is this- Doubt is the one pulling the strings when we tell ourselves 'I just need to feel Confident then I will XYZ'.
Because Doubt knows it's staying on the scene and knows at the end of the day, it can rear its head to say 'Nope, you're not going anywhere just yet, you're still not feeling Confident enough, have you thought about XYZ'?
So what options do we have?
1. We wait until we feel ready to take action and simply hope to feel ready at some point in the future.
2. We take a step. Despite not feeling 100% ready.
There really are no other alternatives. We either stay where we are or we move forward.
When I look at my own life, my Confidence grew not because I waiting to feel Confident before taking action. For me, it was the other way around - Once I took action, I felt Confident.
It wasn't until I bit the bullet and started a Business, I felt more Confident in the decision.
It wasn't until I practiced speaking more German I felt more able to.
It wasn't until I began to write more when I felt my writing actually wasn't so terrible.
The truth, at least, my truth is this;
Once I do XYZ, then I feel Confident
Which is interesting because this is the exact opposite of what Doubt has us believe...
This may come as a Refreshing realization, that in order to improve our Confidence we need to act first.
It's much more empowering to know we have the power RIGHT NOW, to take action.
To make decisions that will alter the course of our lives.
Knowing that by taking those steps, we grow in Confidence as well as moving closer to where we want to be.
I'm going to end as I started, with a Question.
What have steps have you been putting off taking that you know feel you would like to take?
If you enjoyed this and want more inspiration & tools to think better, feel better, and live better - then here is what you can do right now...
1. Visit the shop & download an E book version of my book, Becoming Unstuck: your simple step by step guide to taking charge of your life, by clicking here
(Hint: Use Coupon code BLOG to save 50% off my book and all other products).
2. Take my Free 5-Day Combat Limited Thoughts Challenge by clicking here
3. Learn more about my services or book a Free Strategy call by clicking here
P.S
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If you enjoyed this and want more inspiration & tools to think better, feel better, and live better - then here is what you can do right now...
1. Visit the shop & download an E book version of my book, Becoming Unstuck: your simple step by step guide to taking charge of your life, by clicking here
(Hint: Use Coupon code BLOG to save 50% off my book and all other products).
2. Take my Free 5-Day Combat Limited Thoughts Challenge by clicking here
3. Learn more about my services or book a Free Strategy call by clicking here
P.S
