Self doubt lives at the intersection of who you have been and who you are called to be.
This is a spin on a quote from Rory Vaden, the author of Take The Stairs. He said that it’s your uniqueness that lives at this crossroads. And I think he’s right, but we all know what happens when we feel that pull to share our uniqueness with the world.
When our uniqueness calls out it’s desire, self doubt is never far behind.
Here’s what I believe. Most of us feel the tug to step forward all the time, whether you’re dreaming of a going after big promotion, opening up to your soulmate, or sharing your unique vision for the future. Any time your deep desires step forward, they will always be chased by the wolves of self doubt. All of the energy and emotion that rises up within you inevitably pushes your self doubt buttons. It’s tempting to slink away from the edge. You might wonder, “What the heck came over me? I don’t know what I was thinking.” You might blame your bold ambitions on the wine, or the altitude, or that time of the month. Who the f**k are you to believe that you can be different, especially without believing that you’re not enough now?
I believe there’s nothing wrong with this! In fact, I think that’s a big part of what we’re here to experience over and over throughout our lives.
Suspend your ideas of how things are supposed to be.
I often tell my client to imagine their ideas of what their life is supposed to look like as just something they’ve read it in a book. When they obsess that they’re not doing things right, I remind them that this is just a story. Put that book up on a high shelf, you don’t need to keep reading it!
Gift yourself with a few moments to stop worrying about whether what you want is realistic. Shamelessly acknowledge your doubts and then ask what else is here? Tell your doubt to pipe down and let other parts of you have a turn to talk? Your body is the vehicle and the voice of your intuition. Be a good listener. Sit quietly or go for a walk and spend some time wondering what your body wants you to know. Listen with your whole body. Your intuition uses all of your senses to communicate, not just words.
Your self doubt and fear can become something that you feel and not something you have to overcome.
What if you allowed your doubts to exist alongside your courage and your desire? When you do this, you move further down the path toward the things that make your heart sing. Open a new book and write this on the first page,
I am not the victim of my doubt, I am the conduit of my dreams!