How many times have I been robbed by a thief called confidence? How often has my lack of confidence kept me from doing something I really wanted to do? I can’t even begin to imagine the number. But I do know that much of my discontent and disillusionment is fueled by the opportunities stolen from me by confidence or the lack thereof.
Here’s what I mean. Too often I wait for enough confidence to make the decision, take the action, ship the work and the confidence never comes. And that lack of confidence acts as a thief. The indecisiveness, in-action, and stagnation fuel a sense of being defeated. That sense of defeat fuels despair.
I’m being very transparent here for two reasons. One, I’m tired of trying to put up a front of having it all together. Two, I think more people can relate than care to admit it. Perhaps the sense of not being alone can be a positive fuel for action in itself.
The act of writing this is an exercise of taking control back. I can’t control whether I will feel confident at any given moment. But, I can control whether I will do the work despite my feelings. If I believe there is value in writing, then should resist the thief who wants to rob me of that value. If writing brings me joy, then I should do it whether I feel like I’m good enough or not.
What about you. What does the thief rob from you? What work are you not shipping, what action are you not taking, what decision are you not making, all because you don’t “feel” confident enough? You can’t control your feelings, but you can control your actions. So, let’s act together despite our feelings. Who knows what value and the joy we might find in the act alone?