Self doubt is nothing less than sabotage. Others will always have doubt & criticism, both constructive & not. To unnecessarily doubt ourselves just holds us back, closes us off to opportunities & the possibilities for our lives. For years I doubted my own abilities; in the corporate IT world, “they said” I couldn’t succeed as programmer in a male dominated industry. I believed the people who said that, yet I did succeed.
“If you want to move up you’ve got to get into analysis & leave coding alone”. Except I like to write code. Then it was “you’ll never be a project manager, that’s where the real money is.” But I did; I didn’t like it, money or no money.
I started my own business in 2003, but again for years I doubted my own drive & ability to run a business, to be creative, to help others through my own unique talents. So I chose instead to stay corporate; I was a business owner mostly in name only.
There has always been so much fear in not being a successful designer or decorator. So much anxiety about not being taken seriously, or worse, not even noticed. And in not being able to pay the bills.
Even as 2016 came to a close, like everyone else I wondered what I would do differently going forward. A lot. But more importantly, would I continue to doubt? Would I allow others’ shortsightedness, fear, & doubt cloud my own view of myself, my family, & my dreams?
And then, on Sunday, January 1, 2017, I received this:
Good morning friends and Happy 2017 to you and yours! Today & everyday, let’s consider the words of Sarah Ban Breathnach who dared all of us to “Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous New Year by believing. Believe in ourselves. And believe that there is a loving Source – a Sower of Dreams – just waiting to be asked to help us make our dreams come true.”
Additionally, may our coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. And may we read some fine books, attend our meetings of recovery and healing, be of service to others, take care of our bodies and spirits, and kiss someone who thinks we’re wonderful.
And let’s surround ourselves with dreamers and doers, the believers and the thinkers, but most of all, surround ourselves with those who see greatness within us, even when we don’t see it ourselves. And don’t forget to make some art—write or draw or sing and live only as we can. And somewhere in this New Year, may we surprise ourselves!
May the Creator of all continue to shine His light of love on you and yours today and all throughout this New Year!
~~Chaplain Roger Ward
Believe in yourself.
