Doubt Is the Price of Doing Something That Matters

“ The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident.  The real one is scared to death”

Steven Pressfield.

Years ago, I read a post by a very famous entrepreneur & business leader.  He said his mother pushed him to speak in front of groups of visitors as a child.

As a result, he was able to overcome this fear when speaking in front of large groups of colleagues later in life.

His mothers’ message …. “it’s not about you!”.

Now in this world where self-care is prevalent! (quite right) can we hold both concepts together? Can we accept the paradox?

What if thinking of yourself less is the highest form of love?

Especially when speaking, innovating or creating anything new.

What can go wrong?

First, not realising there is a song or story inside waiting to be shared or second, knowing it and bumping against self-doubt, fear ……. and seeing that as a sign to stop!

In the words of Maya Angelou "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you” or Henry David Thoreau  "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them."

What's the result of the agony and quiet desperation?

Just take a quick look around at the state of many of our business and political leaders.  Need I say more :)

Less flippantly - what about the pain they are causing others? another potential financial crash heading our way, growing inequality, increasing wars and slow and deepening decline of our countries, communities and family life.

Can it be reversed?

I like to think so.  Maybe not how the vast majority are showing their dissent ....

Protesting or marching.

My view? We do it quietly, peacefully, one person at a time.

Some false beliefs to clear first.

The way to beat uncertainty is not by mastered the so-called opposite, certainty.  They are two sides of the same coin.  Taking this approach doesn’t work. 

The key is being able to hold fear, self-doubt and uncertainty and continuing to move forward and act. It requires a level of vulnerability in which you continue to move forward despite knowing nothing in this world is certain. Imagine!

Try this …..

• Focus internally.  Selfish? might appear so to some but let them think what they like.

• Get clear on direction (See link below).

• Accept fear and self-doubt as a natural part of the process.

• Stay the course – (Read more - Cultivating Aloneness and Staying True When the Shadow Knocks) – we are working on self-belief! Not a confident exterior mask.

• Be careful not to verge into over confidence – beat by staying open to feedback and commit to honest self-reflection.

Experience tells me original people, the best innovators are also masters in fear and self-doubt.

Some things I have learned:

• Following people who are more self-confident increased their confidence, not yours. Belief comes from the self, delivering what you say you will, staying true to your word & actions, acting with integrity to one’s highest self.

• Paying (employing) people to do work we should be doing ourselves, is fear based.

• So are any other short cuts.

• Self-doubt increases when we give bits of ourselves to a piece of work, a person or community. Commit fully.

• It’s stupid to engage in anything that disconnects from this beautiful energy – any excess – food, alcohol, business, Netflix series, games, drama, pursuit of anything not aligned!

• I am responsible for taking care of my energy – mind, body and spirit.

• It's a mistake to let anyone not taking care of their own energy to use mine.

• The work on raising consciousness is the work.  Sri Ramana Maharshi's words “Your own self-realisation is the greatest service you can render the world".

• The more you follow this path, the more aligned you become with your own nature (true nature) the less frequent self-doubt and fear arises.

Feeling the fear or self doubt? fabulous! sounds like you are on track. Keep moving.

Download FREE chapter from The Key to Mental Health, click "Finding and Fulfilling Your Life's Direction"