Doubt
doubt |dout|
noun
a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction
That’s how I would define what is going on up in my head at this moment. You see, I don’t think “doubt” is necessarily a bad thing.
Doubt for instance has inspired this post. I’m far from being a writer, I just try put into words what I think, conversations that I have, ideas, good or bad, they are mine.
Once in awhile I feel like posting something “serious” then doubt comes and keeps me from it.
I think “writer’s block” is all about doubt, note I say I think, I can’t talk with certainty about it because as I said before I’m not a writer.
Writer’s block? Me? Nah! I’m not a writer.
Even as I write this post I keep asking myself what the hell am I doing, and I hope that before I reach 500 words I have a point.
I’ve been doubting myself a lot this week, like what to do with something that I’m really passionate about. Should I give up or keep trying?
Friday I wrote a post about it, it’s on my drafts it’ll be there forever, because before hitting publish I doubted myself once again, and decided to keep trying.
My Precioussssss
Before I lose you in this randomness I’ll brief you on my past.
I’ve been doing sports since I was 7, Track and Field put me through college, I was ready for Beijing 2008 but got injured before and had to drop the idea of going, lost motivation and decided not to try for London 2012, decided to train again and try for Rio 2016, doubt struck and was going to quit for good, then doubt struck again and now I’m determined to keep trying.
I have another bunch of posts on draft that I’ll never publish, I’m not teasing you, I’m just sharing my thoughts with you.
A Few Drafts
Since we are ( I am) talking about doubt, I’d like to share a 2 different approaches on “doubt”.
If you haven’t watched any of these movies you should check them out.
Yikes!! Doggy just farted, guy is dead in the inside…..Jesus Christ!!!!
Meryl Street closing scene Doubt
The ending scene of Religulous
Wow, I didn’t even hit 400 words! Props to me.
Love the “imaginary friend” bit – very funny. My imaginary friends never stop talking to me – they have no option
Here’s hoping you get back in your groove soon – although your randomness still keeps us amused.
I have several voices in my head, they won’t leave me alone.
“Several”? Only “several”? You want a couple dozen? I got a group behind my appendix I’m lookin’ to relocate!
I can’t host at the moment. I’m arguing with mine.
KEEP GOING!!
I’ll keep rolling
oh your draft list looks interesting, I would like to read all this posts ;o) ….ahhhhmmm are you sure it was Doggy?
Sure it was him
There are 2 drafts that I’ll publish eventually
I love that film Doubt. Like LLCD my imaginary friends never stop talking me or me them..LOL I’m considered totally mad
xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
You are clinically diagnosed, just saying.
I caught the end of Doubt last night, I’ve seen it before but was glad to see the ending again, that’s a great scene
Leave it to Mrs. Streep, she’s a genius.
Doubt is a superb and chilling film. It’s also an essential part of our makeup – a SMALL pinch is needed by everyone. Get back to working on the outrageous
I agree my dear Animals.
I always think of doubt as a safety valve….a little pause to give you a chance to REALLY decide to keep going or turn back. Follow your heart. I agree with Easy’s assessment of your “draft” list….some of those ought to be moved from draft to “published” !
Hugs, Pam
I agree doubt is a persons ” internal compass “. Excellent point.
Isn’t Pam wise?
I love her.
Yes indeed Pam iis a wise woman. What about you training for Rio how cool! When and you will win Gold will you remember uds
You are right Pam.
Love You Are a Whore was supposed to be published last Thursday, that post will see the light soon.
I am with Pam on doubt being a safety valve, a little warning flag sometimes too. Doubt of all kinds keeps me from posting. That and PROcrastination. You should NOT give up!
Procrastination sucks, I suffer from it too.
The key word in this post is “passionate.” If you are passionate about something (if you truly are, not just throwing out buzz words) then screw doubt! You just answered your own question.
I truly am.
If you want to become an accomplished writer, the solution isn’t writing nothing.
I would never even dare to attempt to become a writer, I’ll stick with the running.
“Even as I write this post I keep asking myself what the hell am I doing, and I hope that before I reach 500 words I have a point.”
Oh good, it’s not just me!
Great post!
It’s so hard at times to try to get your point across and keep it short, I’m learning tho.
So you post your drafts. What’s the worse that can happen? You decide to edit them.
Once they are published I don’t edit them.
May I just say WOW, you’re training for Rio 2016?!
And are you sure it was Doggy….?
I am, body is aching, every bit of it, one is getting old.
It was Doggy, I swear.
My comment was about Rio too! I mean, crazy that you were almost at Beijing! And good luck for Rio – I bet you can do it!
Jill and I are rooting for you! With pom poms
Always with pom poms!
Pom poms are good but you gotta match them with your Pom Pom socks.
Thanks Jill! My body is all sore now, the older you get the harder it is to workout, but since I’m only 19 I can’t complain about age
You’re only 19?! Gosh, I feel ancient… at 5 years older than you… almost a quarter century! *sob*
Well, I’m not really 19, but the more you say the more real it becomes, I’m stuck on 23, people wonders but none date to ask more. The other day I got depressed because I realized that I was not 23 but a little bit older. I’m working on that
HAHAHA! I feel ya man. I feel ya!
Jill? My CAR is older than you. I am more than TWICE your age, and more than 2.5 times older than Leo. The newest car in our “motorpool” is as old as Leo.
There. Feeling better? Cause I sure as HECK ain’t!
AW! John, you get a big kiss from me! I feel loads better ^.^ I’ll remember that while I’m babysitting tonight, because inevitably I’m going to mention something from ‘my’ generation, and the kid will go, “Who’s that?” And I would’ve gotten sad panda. But not now ^.^
My daddy farts like that too BOL
May God bless your heart girls!
Would love to read the “Love You Are A Whore” post. From what I’ve come to know of you, it’s nothing that I might imagine it to be! Introspection is an interesting practice, Leo. When you look within, without judgment, you’ll see things you might have missed before…or, perhaps, you will re-validate what you’ve known. Good either way! xoM
“Love You Are A Whore” will see the light, it was supposed to be posted last week, but changed my mind. As for introspection, I agree with you.
doubt is like Carl Sandburg’s descritpion of the fog…it comes in on little cat’s feet…
I loved what you wrote, never read it before. Really nice.
Doubt is a stranger in a bar. He may have some very good points to make, but at the end of the day, he’ll rolf on your shoes and make a bloody mess of things. Listen to doubt, but judge his words carefully, as the wheat of knowledge is buried deep in the chaff of self denunciation.
Doubt sounds like a hooker to me.
Very much so. She’ll give you something you might need at that moment, but spend too much time with her and you’ll get a gift that keep on giving!
Dear sweet Leo, sometimes when I doubt myself or my writing, I remember my favorite words from one of my writing professors: “Done is better than perfect.” Sometimes my own writer’s block and inability to hit “publish” comes from a concern that something isn’t good enough (other times in my case it comes from avoidance of emotion, and still other times from the overwhelming urge to watch tv instead
).
But every time I think of that phrase, “Done is better than perfect” I remember why he told it to us – so many people out there want to write and have plenty of ideas, but the ones who are making progress are not always the most talented or inspired, but simply the ones who just do the work of putting it out there every day.
Since you happen to be both talented and inspired (and I think anyone here will vouch for your super awesome creativity) you just need to start telling yourself “Done is better than perfect” and put it out there. You are awesome and you always make me laugh or think or surprise me with a fart of something decaying inside your bowels, and I thank you for that.
Love, Marla
I love your point Marla.
Thank you very much.
Ps: Golden Girls usually get on my way of writing lol
Hahaha. I love Golden Girls. Did I ever tell you that I met Betty White once? I started to thank her for being a friend, then caught myself mid sentence and felt like a total dork so I just shut up and had her sign her book for me.
Hahhahahaha I can imagine.
I’d love to meet that woman, I once saw Bea in NYC, was something surreal. I’m a fan of them since I was little, my mom would watch them and once I was old enough to get all the innuendos I started to enjoyed them myself. Would watch them every single night on Life (TV for women lol).
doubt is what has always kept my Mom going…doubt in herself made her strive harder in her consulting business so no one ever saw that doubt. It caused her to learn things she might not have…and there is a draft option in our admin tools for a reason…just sayin’, Savannah
Draft is for trial and error.
You are wise Savannah
Thanks
If you love it, you must do it. That is my philosophy. I got that from my dog, Wonderbutt. He never lets doubt deter him from anything.
We’ve got a couple of things to learn from dogs.
Leo, you need to do a reality check on Jack and the Beanstalk. A puff piece movie is coming out March 1. It is probably full of untruths and propaganda.
I’m gonna keep it in mind, sounds like my kind of movie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Giant_Slayer
RIO 2016. Awesome.
Scary thought but awesome nonetheless
Leo trust your judgment and you will know in your heart if what you post is right or wrong .
I have a internal police, if something keeps me from sleeping right is wrong and I should fix it, if I get to sleep like a baby is right. My posts may be wrong in a way, but they are my babies, I gotta love them even if they are ugly and tell them that are cute so they can get to live a happy life.
Excellent analogy!
Nothing good was ever done without the existence of doubt. Doubt is what makes you better, so doubt should help you move forward, not stagnate. So doubt needs to be doubled up by courage. Doubt it, but have the courage to try it. Good luck, Leo:)
I agree Lavinia. Courage is what makes the difference.
OK I am a little scared of the draft titled “Public Exposure” lol. Love the graphic on writer’s block!
That’s a really clean post, opposite to what it may suggest lol
I love that definition of writer’s block!