Changing your inner dialog
Several weeks ago, I designed a logo for myself. Taking advantage of a Shutterfly special offer, I transferred the image to a mug, a notepad and a tote bag. On the morning of my writer’s forum meeting, I packed my new tote with a few copies of my books, a notebook, assorted pens and pencils and my critique folder. “This will be great!” I thought.
I couldn’t do it. I unpacked my bag and stuffed my gear in my old generic tote bag. Sigh.
In my former life, I never hesitated to say “I’m a teacher.” In fact, I was proud to announce this on several tote bags and mugs, many of them gifts from students or colleagues. But now, even though I’ve published two books, have written articles for magazines, and author a bimonthly blog, I often find it difficult to say “I’m a writer” or “I’m an author.”
Self doubt, imposter syndrome. Common, I think for writers and other creatives. Yet negative thoughts can cause one to stall, want to quit, question…”Why am I doing this?!” What to do?
The Mouse of Doubt
Natalie Goldberg, in her book Writing Down the Bones calls this feeling ‘the mouse of doubt’, and offers this advice: “Avoid getting caught by that small gnawing mouse of doubt. There is nothing helpful there. Instead, have a tenderness and determination toward your writing, a sense of humor, and a deep patience that you are doing the right thing.”
Anne Lamott has a more graphic mouse analogy. In Bird by Bird, she says to picture those nagging inner voices as mice. Pick them up by their tails, drop them into a mason jar, put the lid on tight, and “watch them lunge at the glass trying to get to you.” Then, go on with your writing.
Mice in a mason jar lunging at you. Try putting that image on a mug or tote bag, but hey, it just might work.
So take that, oh Mouse of Doubt! I’m a writer. I’m an author. I am a blogger. And you can’t stop me!
Click here to get your copy of Out of the Crayon Box or Until Italy! (mouse not included) Disclaimer: No mice were harmed in writing this post. The mice portraying The Mouse of Doubt in my photos are Canva images that I superimposed on my original photos. (Creepy, but so fun!. If you haven’t played around with Canva yet, you should!)
Threads of Thought
Your turn….How do you overcome self doubt? What would you say to others experiencing this?
And keep Goldberg’s words in mind, “have a tenderness and determination toward your writing, a sense of humor, and a deep patience that you are doing the right thing.”
Now go out there, make yourself a logo and slap it on a tote bag!