I am a practical person who tries to be direct in what I express – not often terribly philosophical in my writing or perhaps I might have written a bunch of self-help books by now.
But the spirit has moved me to ask the question: why do we constantly sell ourselves short? Is it part of human nature to fear that we may be inadequate when presented with a golden opportunity?
Fact is, I am one of those whacko individuals who looks forward to change and does her best work when challenged. So when I put feelers out about doing a job that seems way over my head, I chuckle to myself, saying, “Hmm. If I had never put myself out there, I’d never have gotten a shot at it. And if I do get it, it will be a frickin’ miracle.” My “throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks” attitude has resulted in a number of interesting experiences strewn along my life’s path. And even if my resume now looks like a patchwork quilt, I have never regretted taking on something interesting and different.
Once in a while you do get what you wish for, a task or assignment poised to test your mettle in ways you never thought possible. Inevitably (if you’re like me) questions of self-doubt can begin swirling in your head. How have other people managed to succeed at doing what you are about to do? Did they have some magical formula you simply don’t possess? Did they manage to put their blue jeans on differently than you do? Are their credentials better, do they have more expertise than you do, or were they feeling just as scared as you are now but never told a soul about it?
It just so happened that someone somewhere became convinced that you were up to the task, slid a big fat hunk of perfectly clear ice your way and asked you to make a beautiful sculpture. And if one person thinks you can make art out of it, then the possibility exists others might throw some ice your way too. So you have to ask yourself – do you believe in your own abilities as readily as someone else does?
It all comes down to this: now that you’ve got this wonderful opportunity, what will you do? Will you shrink from it, citing you may not have the proper tools to make a killer sculpture? Or will you step up and “behave as if” you are the rock star everyone expects you to be?
My advice: send those ice shavings flying — because if you don’t do it, someone else will. And where will that leave you?
(The writer of this blog thanks you for your willingness to be her therapist for a few moments. After all, life is about so much more than news, weather and sports…)
