Why do we doubt accomplishing our writing goals when others succeed every day?

Doubting ourselves is a common experience that plagues everyone – not just in our creative pursuits.

It is the culmination of our fears of failure, not being good enough and all the times we made a mistake or someone put us down.

We bring all of that baggage into our writer life. 

While we crave success and are excited by our writing goals, we fear pursuing them wholeheartedly at the same time. 

Why?

Because we doubt that we will succeed, never trying protects us from that perceived failure.

Shifting our mindset is key to overcoming self-doubt so that we can confidently tackle our writing goals while remaining excited to write.

Today, I’ve compiled 3 actionable ways for you to overcome self-doubt to love writing again.

Think about how differently we receive positive and negative feedback.

A compliment can last with us for a short while but criticism, even the constructive kind, can have us putting our backs up or forgetting all of our progress.

It influences the negative spiral of thoughts that send us down the rabbit hole, believing we are horrible writers.

We often fall prey to anticipating the worst outcome in any situation. This negative outlook magnifies our fear of failure and thus our doubts that we will be successful writers.

Have you ever compared your writing and progress to that of another writer?

This act of comparison leaves us feeling insecure as we witness the success of others. 

We wonder if there is room for our writing and if we will ever shape up to the success of renowned writers.

Check out “How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Writers,” for specific tips on this challenge.

These negative thought processes influence self-doubt’s effect on our writing journey.

All writers have faced self-doubt and obstacles in their storytelling.

What sets successful writers apart from those with unrealized dreams is that they learn to face these doubts as they work toward their goals.

Resilience is necessary for success.

Now, that we know where these doubts come from let’s dive into how we can overcome our self-doubts so that we remain resilient and motivated in our craft.

Our stream of consciousness constantly flows with thought after thought that we pay little attention to.

Yet, when we allow ourselves to believe every thought, we accept the self-doubt our unconscious mind thrusts upon us.

Set the intention to notice when a doubtful thought about your writing goals arises. 

Many people use affirmations to develop a shift in their mindset. Think of your self-doubts as a negative affirmation that you currently believe.

Now, whenever you notice that you’re doubting yourself, you will reframe those thoughts into positive reflections.

You can do this by:

• Stating set affirmations that connect to your writer lifestyle
• Getting clear on what success means to you
• Reminding yourself of the small wins and progress you’ve made
• Revisiting your “why” – your reason for wanting to accomplish that writing goal
• Determining if the doubt is true/ realistic
• If it is a realistic fear, creating an action plan (your plan B) to address this concern

When you use these tools to reframe your self-doubt, you can reshape your neuro pathways, teaching yourself a new way of thinking about your writing goals and building resilience by refusing to accept your doubts as fact.

Connecting with other writers in the same genre or with similar values is a wonderful way to develop a group of cheerleaders to help you combat your doubts.

There is an amazing community of writers online who will welcome sharing tips and celebrating your wins. 

If connecting with a digital community feels scary, look for local writing groups or within your inner circle. 

Perhaps you don’t have another writer nearby, but even a dedicated friend who loves reading your manuscripts can boost your confidence.

It’s difficult to maintain resilience when you go it alone.

You don’t need to show your writing to the entire world, but sharing your creative journey with a core group of supporters can reassure you when facing writerly challenges.

All writers experience imposter syndrome at some point along their writing journey.

For writers, there is a pervasive belief that you are not a writer unless you’re published.

That is so far from true!

If you write, YOU ARE A WRITER! It doesn’t matter how often you do so or if your writing is for yourself or shared with others.

The belief that publication defines a writer leaves many of us who are unpublished doubting our skills and our identity. 

Self-doubt leads to imposter syndrome as we constantly believe that we aren’t good enough or aren’t really a writer and therefore shouldn’t be published in any case. 

Yet, every writer started out unpublished.

Imposter syndrome feeds self-doubt and self-doubt feeds imposter syndrome leading to a negative loop of invasive thoughts that bar us from accomplishing our writing goals.

To overcome imposter syndrome, you can:

• Remind yourself that doubt is a normal experience
• Celebrate your writing achievements (no matter how small)
• Focus on your personal writing progress, not the successes of others or the ideal of perfection
• Affirm that “I am a writer because I write”
• View published authors as inspiration: “If they can succeed, then so can I”

Self-doubt is a normal part of any writer’s journey.

It’s a mindset that once recognized can be refuted to support the accomplishment of your writing goals.

As writers, we follow many routines – researching, plotting and revising a novel to the giant job of writing that story. Take some time to add Mindset Shift Practice to your routines.

Using these tools to overcome your self-doubt and celebrate your personal progress will positively enhance your ability to succeed as a writer.

Each of us is capable of achieving our writing goals. 

Find a supportive community, reframe intrusive thoughts and build a resilient practice that supports you through every challenge you’ll face.

Do you have an affirmation that supports you as a writer?

Share it below.

Talk soon!

Julia