How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Share Your Ideas Boldly
From the archives… again!
July 26, 2023, 11:53 pm
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to show up in spaces where I feel uncertain or even a little awkward. Tonight, as I folded laundry and listened to a podcast about healthcare providers navigating uncertainty, something clicked. The episode talked about the discomfort of not knowing and how sometimes, we just don’t have clear answers. It reminded me of the very reason I sometimes hesitate to write or share—this nagging fear that I might be doing it “wrong.”
In academic writing, there’s a rubric. You check all the boxes, and you know when you’re done. But creative writing? That’s a whole different story. There’s no universal measure of “right.” Even when I think about my friends who’ve studied creative writing at the graduate level, they’ve shared that even their work gets measured against some kind of standard. But here’s the thing: when it comes to my blog, there’s no rubric. There’s no way to mess this up because it’s mine. And yet, I’ve let the structure of education—something I deeply value—become a barrier to my own creativity.
As I listened to the podcast, I laughed at myself. I realized how much I’d internalized this need to get it “right,” even in a space that’s meant to be free and expressive. The irony is almost too much: I champion education and its ability to open doors, yet here it was, subtly closing the door on my creative voice. But tonight, I decided to open that door again.
Old habits really do die hard! When I lost 100 pounds during myweight loss/ self care/ self love journey, I learned a powerful truth: there’s no such thing as “right” or “wrong,” “healthy” or “unhealthy.” There simply is—or there ain’t! And yet, here I am, years later, still beholden to the idea that there’s a “right” and a “wrong” way to do something. The truth is, there isn’t. There’s only the way I do something and the way I don’t. That realization freed me then, and it’s time to let it free me again now. [Nov 2024 Joval, when this is published says baby, I’ve been freeeeeeeed!!!]
Breaking Free From Perfectionism: The Courage To Create
This shift didn’t happen in isolation. It happened because of a conversation—a community moment. Earlier today, I asked my friend Justin a question about his big, audacious goal, and he threw it back at me, as great conversations often do. What’s my big goal? I told him I want to create community. I want to write and share ideas. I want to build something meaningful. That conversation planted a seed, and later, as I mulled it over, I realized: the only wa,y to truly do this wrong is to not do it at all.
I’ve said it before: the only way to handle difficult conversations poorly is to avoid having them when they need to happen. Similarly, the only way to blog “wrongly” is to not blog at all. So here I am, taking my own advice. Showing up, even if it’s imperfect. Because what’s the alternative? To keep my thoughts to myself, trapped by the idea that I need to fit into some imaginary mold? As my nephew used to say at the beautiful, ripe, polite age at only 2 years old, “no, thank you please!”
So this is me, embracing the process, learning through doing, and leaning into the beautiful, messy uncertainty of it all. And maybe that’s the point—not to have it all figured out but to share anyway, to live in community, and to let that connection shape me.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for being part of this community I’m building—one breath, one prayer, one thought, one conversation, one post at a time!
A Prayer for Courage and Creativity
God, thank You for the courage to show up, even when I feel uncertain. Thank You for reminding me that perfection isn’t the goal—obedience, trust, and connection are! Help me to let go of the need to “get it right” and instead embrace the beauty of co-creating with You, The Creator of All Creation!
Teach me to trust that each small step—each breath, prayer, thought, and action—brings me closer to the purpose You’ve placed on my heart. To help me fulfill my desires, to help me fulfill my God-given vision. May my words and my life be a reflection of Your grace and truth, drawing others into the freedom You’ve given me.
And so it is. It is already done. Amen!
Your Turn to Reflect!
Reflection invites clarity and sparks growth, guiding us toward meaningful action. Take a moment to pause and consider these questions. Answer one or all—I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
- What is one step you’ve been afraid to take because you feel it might not be “perfect”?
- How can you invite God into your creative process this week?
- In what ways can you build community by sharing your thoughts, prayers, or ideas?
- How has fear of failure held you back, and how can you shift your focus toward faith and courage instead?
- What is one small action you can take today to move closer to your big, audacious goal?
