This is a quick exercise to help you get on your feet again when you find yourself tripping over self-doubt.

This is a quick exercise to help you get on your feet again when you find yourself tripping over self-doubt.

We all have a little voice in our head that questions our good ideas, casts doubt and generally puts us off following our creative impulses.  The voice often comes from our conditioning, including what we were told when we were young like ‘you can’t do that’. 

This voice does not tell us the truth about what is possible now.  It only tells you of fears and restrictive thinking that you have picked up from others.  It does not support you to follow your creative inspiration.

You can’t refocus and get back on track until you get the voice of doubt out of your system.  

1. Get a piece of paper and start writing all the messages in your head that put you off track.  Catch all the thoughts and voices rattling around and write them down.  It may take a bit to track them all, but keep writing and they will come into focus one by one.

For example:

Who am I to think I’ve got talent?
Once I’ve produced this work I will have to put it out there and that scares me.
I’m not good enough.
I don’t know enough
It’s too big, it is overwhelming.

2. Whatever guise your voice of doubt takes, keep writing until there is nothing of it left in you. You don’t need to go over what you have written or analyse it in any way.  

3. Burn the piece of paper and go for a brisk walk, swim, bike ride - anything active to shift your focus.  

* * * The Next Step * * *

Now you have done this you are ready to take the next step.  Check out the exercise – Get back on track.