Steps to stop fear and self doubt
Recently I have been in the stages of dealing with grief. I’m in a place that’s strange and difficult, and as a result it has knocked my confidence, with the feeling of fear creeping up. I don't really think I've been in this situation before, and as a creative and with life throwing curve balls, I'm sure this won't be the last time i'll be in this place. I've also been thinking, if I feel this way - others must too. It might be a death, burnout, or could even be a really big achievement you've made, that can hit you, leaving you to feel out of your depth and powerless to move forward. Maybe you are a creative, perhaps running your own business like me? Or you are just at a difficult period in your life, feeling a bit lost ? I thought some of these steps might help, as they are helping me just now. Each one I am working through, and getting there, slowly. So to address those feelings of self doubt and fear, I've made some steps below to help you.
Accept that you are stuck.
We can't always be on top and winning at life all the time. We are human, this happens to everyone - we can't forever be bursting with ideas, energy, and feeling inspired all the time. Just accept this, stop giving yourself a hard time and putting so much pressure on yourself. You are a living, breathing, emotional being. Be kind to yourself, this is temporary.
Take a break - reset your mindset.
Get out of your headspace, go to a different location - even just a mile away, see something new, whether it be a different part of the city/town you live in, or out in the woods, or up a hill. Go somewhere to just ‘be’, no questions, no big decisions to make, just look around you and be in that moment.
Write down any feelings you have.
I've been writing down about three or four emotions each day of where my head is at. I feel just putting something down on paper can help. Otherwise if you have more to say, then any feelings that are eating away just write it down, no one needs to see this…you don't even need to re-read it. But the act of writing down what’s swirling in your head can help.
Be good to your body - eat plenty of veg, fruit and drink water.
As obvious as this may sound, the first thing to go when stressed, anxious, or grieving is diet and exercise. I believe these are very important to contributing to your mindset. Nourish your body and keep it healthy - and keep exercising, this helps clear the mind - I find walking and just a few stretches really helps. Yoga and pilates are great to get you breathing and focus on something else - just keep moving and eating atleast your five fruits & veg each day.
Do something you love to do and give yourself permission to do it.
I'm pretty bad at having a voice in the back of my head saying "ok you need to get back to work!" Cut out that noise and do something that gives you real enjoyment - reading, writing, painting, walking, binge watching Netflix? I love baking, especially in Autumn/fall time. So I have been baking pies and just dedicating time to the act of cooking - it makes me calm and happy, which is a good headspace to be in.
Surround yourself with friends and people who are on your side.
It's easy to become withdrawn and not want to "bother" anyone with your problems. But I know that as a friend, I'd want to help anyone who needs it. Don't be afraid to contact your nearest and dearest, you need people who will root for you. Reach out, send a text, email, or quick call on the phone.
Create a vision board of what you want in life.
Cut out magazines to create a collage, or create a pinterest board with images, quotes and goals of where do you want to be? What do you want from life? What makes you YOU, and why you're doing what you're doing.
Get back to creating.
For me it's sewing. My occupation is designer/tailor/dressmaker. It has been hard to get back into the headspace to work on these things again. If I'm honest I haven't completed this task yet myself, but I will - the first thing I'm going to do is something small. Something that's just for me or a friend. I know that I need to reconnect with my original creativity to see why I fell in love with it. And I encourage you to do this too.
Well there's some steps that I find have helped me and if they help others too then that would make this post so much more worthwhile. Just don't be hard on yourself, do things that make you calm and happy. Sometimes it's just the little steps that can make a big difference.
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson
L x