“I’m a terrible writer” -says the blogger

How much of your internal dialogue is directed at yourself in a negative way?

Somewhere in our society being modest about yourself means diminishing your worth. Stating things like "oh I am not that good at (fill in the blank)".

"I'm not a runner" as you're trying to get into running and have improved a lot since you first started.

But as you continue with that diminishing language, you begin to believe it about yourself.

There is potential in you though. You are what you do. So if you like to write, you are a writer. There is no definition of what equates a person to be something or not. It's a range. But we can all be what we want to be and what we are working on.

I have negative opinions about myself just as most others do. Over the years though, I have worked on the black and whiteness of it. In life you are never only one or the other. Are a writer, are not a writer. You enjoy writing, you spend time writing. You may not be a published author (maybe you don't ever want to be), but you are still in the experience of writing. And what makes a writer a writer? they WRITE!

We're so accustomed to not being good enough unless we are elite or the best. What made stephen king a famous writer? He had to create as an unknown writer until he eventually became pushlished and well known. But if he stuck with the belief of "I'm not a famous writer." or, "I'm not a great writer," he may have never stayed consistent in his writing long enough to improve and level up to become the name he is today.

Somebody's going to be the next big author, artist, athlete, etc. Everyone starts at the beginning. Sure there are those who day one were naturally elite. Runners like Deena Kastor only lost her first race as a youth because she wasn't sure she was allowed to win on her first race. From there she has a few years streak of winning every race.

For most people, including the elites, they have stayed consistent long enough to go from beginner, average, good, great, to finally the elite status they have reached.

While natural skill may give you an initial advantage, without the skills and mindset to continue on the path, they will not get you to the goal of achieving whatever it is you want to achieve.

If you think you're bad at something (and maybe you are bad), flip the perspective and look at it from a broader perspective. How long have you been doing X? How have you changed since you started? What mistakes have you made? How have you changed what you're doing from those mistakes? (Because learning is the start but you naturally implement changes from the lessons learned).

It does come down to learning lessons from mistakes you've made to make you the best you can. But many people are sick of hearing "what lesson have you learned" that I want you to change the questions you ask your self. Look at what you can measure about the thing you view negatively about yourself. Where did you start, where are you now? How did you get to this current place? What worked? What did you have to change? and continue from there. Notice the facts. When your attention is on the facts, the emotions of not being where you want to simmer and you are better able to look at the situation more objectively than you have. You won't be perfect at being objective. Even with lots of practice. Same way you aren't perfect at the thing you're working on. And let's be real, you will never be perfect. Stephan King is not a perfect writer. And I'm sure no matter how much of a master you become you will have things to improve on. And that you will want to improve on.

That's the fun part! Working towards something you like or are passionate about is the whole experience!

Have you ever done something you were overly qualified for? Maybe even just a subject in school or puzzle at home? It's boring! You're over it fairly quickly.

Create some space to you can observe your experience as a (fill in the blank).

Because you are that. Whatever you want it to be. We're all human and are all granted the opportunity to do and be what brings us joy.