Determination in the Face of the Disbelievers
We all have moments where we feel like we’re not good enough, where inadequacy slithers through our psyche and takes hold of us at our lowest. We look at what we’ve achieved and we rubbish it, feel it’s not enough, are even embarrassed by it. We look at what we are working towards right now, tell ourselves it isn’t up to the high standard we set ourselves, and feel we should give up. We look to the future and see a stretching, barren canvas.
Everyone has these moments. They are sometimes difficult to see as the illusions that they are. How do we say to ourselves: “You are not inadequate. You’ve achieved a lot. And you will achieve even more” at moments when we struggle to believe in ourselves?
This is often when we turn to other people for advice and encouragement. Sometimes, this is the worst thing we can do. We’re not asking to be lied to. We’re not asking for someone to be unrealistic about what we’re saying, doing or proposing. But we don’t need to be told we can’t do something, or that we’re not good enough.
We all know such people. The self-appointed experts in everything. The self-proclaimed successful masters of their own, and everybody else’s, destiny. The people you should turn to for advice, because they must know the answers, right?
Wrong.
First reason not to trust them – people who make something of themselves, develop success by starting from scratch and never giving up, would they really say to someone “You can’t do it” or “You’re not good enough”? Of course, they would not.
It is difficult to deal with these people. We’ve met many of them already. I’ve known people who managed to make me feel so small, that I would feel I could never achieve what I wanted to. Some would go so far as to mock and to abuse. A few have even taken pleasure in it. That says much more about them, than it does about the people they victimise.
Writers get it all the time. It’s not a “real” job. It’s not something “normal” people do. Well, they’re wrong. Don’t apologise for it, pity them their ignorance. Some of the most successful people on the planet are writers – authors; musicians and songwriters; directors, screenwriters and producers; entrepreneurs; even presidents. So let the small-minded people laugh and scoff, simply smile at them and decide you won’t be allowing yourself to become their victim, simply because you are not.
No matter how you may feel, ignore them. Consider what they truly are behind the self-proclaimed grandeur. They have to bring people down to feel superior, to cause damage to the dreams of another to elevate themselves. Send a message straight back to them, to everyone who ever made you feel inadequate, saying “you are irrelevant, you are nothing to me”. Never give up; you will get there or die trying. Your life will be much more fulfilling than theirs, because you believed.
We all have low moments, but even then we must try not to lose the determination to prove ourselves wrong. It makes us stronger. If you are passionate about doing something, set out and do it. There are people who tell us that we're not good enough. They are wrong. We can achieve. We can develop. We can be the best.
Everyone has these moments. They are sometimes difficult to see as the illusions that they are. How do we say to ourselves: “You are not inadequate. You’ve achieved a lot. And you will achieve even more” at moments when we struggle to believe in ourselves?
This is often when we turn to other people for advice and encouragement. Sometimes, this is the worst thing we can do. We’re not asking to be lied to. We’re not asking for someone to be unrealistic about what we’re saying, doing or proposing. But we don’t need to be told we can’t do something, or that we’re not good enough.
We all know such people. The self-appointed experts in everything. The self-proclaimed successful masters of their own, and everybody else’s, destiny. The people you should turn to for advice, because they must know the answers, right?
Wrong.
First reason not to trust them – people who make something of themselves, develop success by starting from scratch and never giving up, would they really say to someone “You can’t do it” or “You’re not good enough”? Of course, they would not.
It is difficult to deal with these people. We’ve met many of them already. I’ve known people who managed to make me feel so small, that I would feel I could never achieve what I wanted to. Some would go so far as to mock and to abuse. A few have even taken pleasure in it. That says much more about them, than it does about the people they victimise.
Writers get it all the time. It’s not a “real” job. It’s not something “normal” people do. Well, they’re wrong. Don’t apologise for it, pity them their ignorance. Some of the most successful people on the planet are writers – authors; musicians and songwriters; directors, screenwriters and producers; entrepreneurs; even presidents. So let the small-minded people laugh and scoff, simply smile at them and decide you won’t be allowing yourself to become their victim, simply because you are not.
No matter how you may feel, ignore them. Consider what they truly are behind the self-proclaimed grandeur. They have to bring people down to feel superior, to cause damage to the dreams of another to elevate themselves. Send a message straight back to them, to everyone who ever made you feel inadequate, saying “you are irrelevant, you are nothing to me”. Never give up; you will get there or die trying. Your life will be much more fulfilling than theirs, because you believed.
We all have low moments, but even then we must try not to lose the determination to prove ourselves wrong. It makes us stronger. If you are passionate about doing something, set out and do it. There are people who tell us that we're not good enough. They are wrong. We can achieve. We can develop. We can be the best.
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