My New Year’s Resolution: Just One, that I Intend to Keep.
The first few days of the new year are usually filled with hope, and a childlike enthusiasm at the amazing possibilities the days ahead have to offer.
My mind also travels to the year gone by, the resolutions I made sitting at this very same table, the gung-ho spirit I had when I made them, and how some of them got left behind in my diary while few others made it to the finish post.
On reflection, I have come to recognise that the only force that helps me move out of my comfort zone and act on my vision is, Believing in Myself.
If January is all excitement and optimism, March comes in with its doubts and questions. ‘Are these too ambitious a goal? Will I be able to implement them? Should I even try? or What’s the point, I don’t think I can sustain.’
Self doubt starts getting in my way and the goblins in my head rummage through my mind looking for reasons why I should abandon my project. No matter how achievable or not my goals are, its this lack of belief in myself that’s a limiting factor.
Trying to push through these voices of self doubt can be exhausting, and sometimes I am so tempted to give in; Afterall, wallowing in self-pity is at times kinda soothing. At the same time, the feeling of exhilaration whenever I’ve managed to dodge these persuasive voices and move towards my intentions is so heady, that, for most times, its that feeling that gives me the courage to charge past these inner self doubters.
That’s what my new year resolution is all about.
Ideas, Intelligence, Intentions, Visions most of us have aplenty.
But, what we also have a good deal of, is our uncertainties, doubts and fears. Getting around these fears and doubts will be a large part of my agenda this year.
Here I’m sharing with you a few ways I’ve managed to get past my self doubts [Atleast sometimes] Its still ‘work in progress’.
Among the numerous thoughts we have in a day, these unhelpful fears and thoughts can be isolated, as they are nagging, persistent and copious. Fighting them is of no help. Instead I gently address them one by one. After all these monsters are also trying to protect us from any foolhardy endeavours. Addressing their concerns take the fangs off them and infact it makes me better prepared to achieve my goals.
Challenging my irrational thoughts and if needed even chiding my noisy brain with words like- ‘Stop it. I’m not listening to you.’ allows me to bravely forge ahead in the direction of my dreams.
Someone once told me that everyone, even very confident people struggle with self doubt. It feels good to know I’m not the only one with these uncomfortable thoughts. Am guessing any change carries with it its share of confusions and fears. John Steinbeck doubted his quality of writing, Michelangelo didn’t think he was a painter, George Washington feared he would not live up to his people’s expectation, and yet all of them went on to do exemplary work in their field. So methinks we need not shrink or wilt away under self doubt.
Progress on the road towards eliminating my self doubts has never been linear; There have been days where I’ve tucked my tail between my legs and stayed put, and then, there have also been days when I’ve derailed my inner gremlins and forged ahead to ‘Go make that something happen.’
If you, like me are dedicated to creating an amazing year, then go ahead and share your ideas and thoughts on getting past all the internal mulling that keeps us stuck in a loop.
Self doubt is ones personal inferno; But its not invincible. There are slow but sure ways to convince that inner voice that you want to work on those big audacious designs you’ve envisioned for yourself.
