This is part 3 of a series about confidence. In Part 1 of this series, I talked about meaningfulness. In Part 2, I talked about security. The introductory section is repeated so you don't have to read them in any particular order. External validation is not a reliable antidote to self-doubt. It … [Read more...]
Developing a Practice: Self-Confidence
Posts in this category discuss confidence and the practices that build and maintain your confidence.
Where does confidence come from? Part 2: Security
This is part 2 of a series about confidence. In Part 1 of this series, I talked about meaningfulness. The introductory section is repeated so you don't have to read them in any particular order. External validation is not a reliable antidote to self-doubt. It can help, but only if it validates … [Read more...]
Where does confidence come from? Part 1: meaningfulness
External validation is not a reliable antidote to self-doubt. It can help, but only if it validates something you are already pretty confident is true. If your confidence is low, you extend your self-doubt to the judgements others make. Your gremlins are perfectly capable of telling you that the … [Read more...]
Juggling in dystopian times, Part 2
As I write this, there has been an escalation of white supremacist activity in the US, and the generally difficult political climate in both the US and the UK has not really become less difficult than when I wrote Part 1. Part 1 is still relevant and deals with how to make decisions and make time … [Read more...]
Reconnecting with the desire to write
I was talking with a client about writing and motivation recently. We started with “It’s really hard to write with a gun to your head.” which strikes me as a pretty widespread problem. Whether that metaphorical gun is the REF, the tenure process, or something else, external pressure often triggers … [Read more...]
