Self Doubt has been kicking my butt lately. My imagination has been running wild. My self-discipline has been nothing short of laughable, and I’ve had the attention span of a flea’s flat behind — microscopic and I can’t really tell where it is.
My mission on this blog is to be uplifting and positive. To nurture creativity and help others do the same. To plant rainbows, raise unicorns and turn storm clouds into cotton candy.
Hard to do when my cheerful outlook goes in the pooper.
Curling up in the fetal position would be easy. Comfy, even, with the right blankets. But that wouldn’t be productive. I could vent. But that would be counterproductive and the opposite of my mission to be uplifting.
Instead, I’m going to share my self-evaluation. What’s working, what’s not. Where I’ve derailed, where I’m still on track.
Most importantly, I’m going to share the changes and what’s helping me make them. Resources, projects, lifestyle changes, links, quotes, articles, books —stuff you can use, too.
First, let’s start with some subtle yet telltale signs of a poopy outlook.
You start saying “Good enough” before sending out almost every project. Expecting perfection is ridiculous but if “good enough” has become your measuring stick for success, it might be a sign that your give-a-damn needs adjusting.
You start dressing down more than usual. For the past couple weeks, I’ve been wondering just how casual I can dress without getting in trouble at work. And how little makeup I can get away with before I’m mistaken for having the flu. I even almost went to the grocery store in my Tinker Bell pajama pants.
You’re bored all the time, even when you’re doing something that requires your full attention. As in, when you hear “surf the Web and find cool stuff to post to Pinterest,” your inner voice responds with “zzzzzzzz….” So far I’ve found contentment in Legos, but I need to get back in the game. Time to re-engage. Fully.
You don’t worry if you can’t think of anything to write. This is a bit different from writer’s block in that writer’s block is frustrating. You want to write but when you have nothing to put down, you want to screaming from the room. Giving up with a second thought about it? Not good.
You start reading other people’s articles about overcoming fear, motivation and productivity, and you realize just how far off the mark you’ve wandered.
Publishing this post is my first step to getting back on track. Part of me doesn’t want to publish this precisely because it’ll make me accountable, but another part of my mission here is to be authentic. Genuine. Honest.
This is where I’m at right now. It’s temporary. It’s fixable. And I’m going to fix it. Starting with my workspace, coming up in my next post, Reclaiming your writer’s space.
How’s your outlook holding up? Share in the comments.
Rubber Ducky Copywriter 
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