Overcoming Doubt
Have you ever thought about starting something new, like watercolors, knitting or stained glass but that little voice inside you speaks up and tries to talk you out of it? I know I have. During Covid I thought I would try watercolors. My great grandfather was a watercolourist and I thought I might have the gene. Well my brain whispered to me I could not paint, I would never get good and more.
After numerous small painting I started to get a little better, not ready for the world but better. I am so glad I did not let those whispers stop me.
When I am teaching a stained glass glass, sometimes students voice their doubts. I say to them- the first time you walked did you walk all the way across a room? Probably not but with practice you got better at walking and one day you made it across a room then ran back to your parent or whoever was waiting for you. And sure enough when the students let the doubt go their work becomes better and better with each piece they complete.
Humans doubt themselves too easily. My parents never told me I could not do something ( unless it would cause injury) and they never told me what I did was horrid- they encouraged me. I have had two people in my life that told me I was not enough and I did believed them until I got them out of my life.
Yet still I have carried doubt with me my whole life. Why? Is it conditioned or human nature?
I have been working on changing my mindset so I will not allow self-doubt in, but it is hard not to listen to the tiny whispers sometimes but it is much better than it was.
Have you ever had self doubt? How did you handle it?
