Confronting Our Doubts
@BethVogt
We all chase after dreams.
During our childhood, the simplest of questions may spark a dream: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Pause for a moment and let’s remember that oh-so-much-younger us. The one who didn’t hesitate to believe we could become a ballerina. Or an astronaut. Or a dolphin trainer. Or a magician. Or an author. Or someone who raised a better family than the one we were living in.
And maybe today we are living our dream … or we aren’t.
Some dreams come true. Some dreams don’t. Sometimes our dreams change because, well, we change. We grow up and dream different dreams. It’s okay to let go of one dream for another one.
Whatever our dream, one thing is always true: Chasing dreams is dangerous business.
Pursuing dreams means confronting doubts.Oh, sure, we’ll meet other people who tell us that we can’t do what we want to do. Our dream? Impossible. We lack the talent. The skill. The wherewithal.
But it’s all the more distressing when the voice inside our head is talking smack. Convincing us that we’ll fail. Taunting us to quit before we even start. Reminding us of past mistakes. Hinting at future disasters.
To succeed, we must believe in who we are right now. We need to say, “I’m enough at this moment,” even as we stretch our hands out to opportunities and strive to be more. To do more.
Dreaming requires that we both imagine and we work. We must determine how to push past fears and the doubts – others and our own – allowing the hope of who we could become and what we could accomplish to be stronger than the pull of all the “can’ts” and “won’ts.”Want to hear a funny story about how tricksy doubts can be?
After my first novel was published, I was working on my second novel. I struggled to write, caught in the throes of “second-book-itis.” I was bogged down, unable to start, much less finish, the book. I sat at my desk, staring at all the insufficient words on my computer screen, and thought: Where do I get off thinking I can write a novel?
I let that doubt have its way with me for a bit … until I realized how utterly absurd it was. Where did I get off thinking I could write a novel? I had written a novel – and it was published! In every sense of the word, I was a published novelist, and yet, here I was, listening to doubt and believing a lie.
Doubts breed lies. About who we are. About what we can accomplish. And lies? Lies will never lead us to our dreams.
We need to defend our dreams with the truth of who we are: imperfect people who will fail on our way to making our dreams come true.
An odd defense, you say? Not at all. Let’s accept ourselves for who we are, weaknesses and strengths. The better to face our doubts on the firm ground of reality and hold on to our dreams.
In Your Words: What helps you hold on to your dreams in the face of doubts?
In Others' Words: The Importance of Protecting Our Dreams http://bit.ly/ CNFVqj #dreams #nodoubts Click To Tweet 'Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.' quote by author Suzy Kassem http://bit.ly/2CNFVqj #perspective #keepdreaming Click To Tweet
Comments 11
The dreams I held are dying now
and will not see the dawn.
With me they must fade and bow
in a game where I’m a pawn
and play a role I didn’t choose,
a sacrifice to a midden
that bids me fall, and lose
the hopes that I kept hidden.
Will a dark and fell abyss
take what I head dear?
Or will a gently divine kiss
make all my doubts come clear?
I know this now, and my spirits lift
that God saves my dreams for me, His gift.
Aargh. One typo. SHould be thus:
The dreams I held are dying now
and will not see the dawn.
With me they must fade and bow
in a game where I’m a pawn
and play a role I didn’t choose,
a sacrifice to a midden
that bids me fall, and lose
the hopes that I kept hidden.
Will a dark and fell abyss
take what I held dear?
Or will a gently divine kiss
make all my doubts come clear?
I know this now, and my spirits lift
that God saves my dreams for me, His gift.
Author
That typo could not mar the beauty of your words, my friend. In the face of unremitting pain, you continue to choose courage and faith. I admire you and am thankful for your friendship.
Your friendship is a teasure, Beth. I am so blessed.
Beautifully said, typo or not. Thanks!
I think what helps most is believing that an increasing number of small dreams being realized gives hope that the big ones are next in line. Good post, Beth. I’m so glad you’re writing successful novels and providing great blog posts, too!
Author
Dee: Such good insight. We should never overlook any of our dreams-coming-true — the little ones, the medium-size ones, and the oh-wow! big size ones. 🙂 All dreams are worthwhile.
Thank you Beth! I needed this reminder. Posts like yours and those from other friends help me remember that this is God’s work. Staying close to Him is key. God bless!
Author
Mary: I’m glad you were encouraged by this post. My thoughts were sparked by a long-distance conversation via text with one of my daughters who is pursuing a dream. I’m proud of her for stepping out, for pushing back against the doubts that inevitably rise up, and for believing in herself. For going after what she wants.
Beth your words are always encouraging and your sweet spirit is revealed. I battle doubts constantly in regards to writing. I have patience because it’s a journey that is not just about the writing. It’s the lessons along the way. Like trust in His ways; ongoing conversations with God; being an encourager to others; being strong in faith and listening.
Author
Daphne: Thanks for encouraging me this morning. 🙂 And yes, listening to God and what He has to say, where He’s directing us, His truth, is so, so important as we journey along to our dreams.