This quote stuck with me when I read it, and thought it would be a good way to start off the week:
"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." -- William Shakespeare
Don't you just love Shakespeare? Doubts really can be stinkers, can't they? I know they can for me. Even with how much I love my new WIP, doubt is hanging in there every step of the way, with every word I write. "Is this actually a good idea?"... "Am I getting any better as an author?" ... "Does this actually totally and completely suck?" You know, minor stuff. Ha ha.
But I have to shove those doubts away, and keep on keeping on. I'm never going to "win any good" if I let my doubts drive me rather than my hopes, dreams, and ultimately my belief in myself. The ironic thing is that no matter how bad I think I may doing while I'm writing something, I inevitably realize it's much better than I thought when I go back to edit it later. Interesting, isn't it? Sometimes I think doubt is a type of self-sabotage to keep us from achieving something really amazing. Our worst doubts seem to attack at the moments when we are actually creating something that exceeds anything we have created before. Maybe it's because we have to stretch to do it--to get to that next level. So, what do you choose to believe in: the doubts? Or the belief that you ARE talented and worthy and able to create something beautiful/amazing/awe-inspiring/or that-at-least-doesn't-suck?
Doubt or belief, which one do you let drive you? What are your deep thoughts for this Monday morning?
8 comments:
Actually we have no choice but to think positive in the end, as the other is just a parasite gathering up more negative momentum unto itself, robbing you of your power, if you allow it. From what I can see, you'll going to do just fine. I look forward to reading your book.
Doubts never drive, but belief moves us forward, even if it's in baby steps.
Depends on the day! Today I choose belief, thanks to you:)
My deep thought for this morning involves coming up with a great excuse to NOT clean.
It seems to me (from what I've read and heard) that doubt and insecurity follow writers no matter what stage they are at in their journey. Even authors with books on the shelves struggle with doubt and insecurity-- will their books earn out, will they ever win an award, etc... Doubt and insecurity is something we will have to learn to push back the whole way. But we can push it back. We have every reason to believe we can succeed at what we've set out to do!
YARG! I hate how true that is. It's hard to struggle against the doubt and try anyway, but it's the truth. Can't do anything if you don't try.
Fantastic article. Sometimes doubt derails me, but thankfully it doesn't usually take me long to get back on track. Right now, I'm generally feeling positive. And I think, really, we writers are generally a fantastic group of optimists. There's too much evidence stacked against us, we have to pretty much be die-hard optimists to keep going, right?
So hard to shove those doubts away sometimes! They are definitely stinkers. Sometimes you just have to keep working despite the doubts. Because like you said, your work is usually better than you think it is. Great post, luv. Inspirational as always.
Four hundred years later, and he's still The Man.
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