Comments on: How to cope with self-doubt http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:45:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Gloria http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-221717 Gloria Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:09:11 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-221717 who let my inner voice out? I self diagnosed myself w/asperberger's at 14. Of course, it was dismissed and then self doubt crept in. I was after all reading the first volume of medical encyclopedias... there was still room for other afflictions. Still- this one's my favorite to hopefully have over adhd. :) who let my inner voice out? I self diagnosed myself w/asperberger's at 14. Of course, it was dismissed and then self doubt crept in. I was after all reading the first volume of medical encyclopedias… there was still room for other afflictions. Still- this one's my favorite to hopefully have over adhd. :)

]]> By: mb http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-213341 mb Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:38 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-213341 Great post. It reminds me of a fantastic TED talk from Elizabeth Gilbert. She tells of people who used to ask her - before her "Eat, Pray, Love" success - if she was afraid that she would never make it as a writer, that she would die in poverty, etc. Of course, she did fear that, but the interesting thing that happened AFTER her great successful book, people asked her if she were afraid that she'll never be able to top the success of that book. You can watch the whole talk (19:38)here: http://bit.ly/ZIZE9. I laughed out loud at that, because it's so true of so many people. I call them the "Yeah, but..." folks. You tell them just about any bit of great news, something truly wonderful and they say "Yeah, but..." Ex. ME: Hey, I just got a great new freelance gig I've been wanting! THEM: Yeah, but won't that mean you'll be too busy to walk Libby in the woods? We all know these toxic folks. I've been gradually whittling them out of my life. It means that I may have more Saturday nights at home, but that will mean I can spend more time with my dog Libby in the woods! Great post. It reminds me of a fantastic TED talk from Elizabeth Gilbert. She tells of people who used to ask her – before her "Eat, Pray, Love" success – if she was afraid that she would never make it as a writer, that she would die in poverty, etc. Of course, she did fear that, but the interesting thing that happened AFTER her great successful book, people asked her if she were afraid that she'll never be able to top the success of that book. You can watch the whole talk (19:38)here: http://bit.ly/ZIZE9.

I laughed out loud at that, because it's so true of so many people. I call them the "Yeah, but…" folks. You tell them just about any bit of great news, something truly wonderful and they say "Yeah, but…" Ex. ME: Hey, I just got a great new freelance gig I've been wanting! THEM: Yeah, but won't that mean you'll be too busy to walk Libby in the woods?

We all know these toxic folks. I've been gradually whittling them out of my life. It means that I may have more Saturday nights at home, but that will mean I can spend more time with my dog Libby in the woods!

]]> By: Helen Romeo http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-213258 Helen Romeo Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:21:11 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-213258 Oh God, Penelope, in this posting you ARE ME. Yes the need to succeed and the knowledge I can and the crippling self-doubt and the feeling of being trapped and the fear: they hurt. I cannot conceive not succeeding, in a big way. Not living up to my potential (which I know to be great). But so far it all eludes me as I 'saw the light' late and haven't been striving for long enough, from early enough, feel time is running out, and then again, that fear... Thanks for what? well, for allowing me to realise that even those who I view as 'successful' and 'who've made it' (you) have been through the same thing...it's a motivating factor and not an inhibiting one, for once... PS huge congrats on the marriage proposal - you'll be happy on the farm, I know it too. Helen Romeo Oh God, Penelope, in this posting you ARE ME. Yes the need to succeed and the knowledge I can and the crippling self-doubt and the feeling of being trapped and the fear: they hurt. I cannot conceive not succeeding, in a big way. Not living up to my potential (which I know to be great). But so far it all eludes me as I 'saw the light' late and haven't been striving for long enough, from early enough, feel time is running out, and then again, that fear…
Thanks for what? well, for allowing me to realise that even those who I view as 'successful' and 'who've made it' (you) have been through the same thing…it's a motivating factor and not an inhibiting one, for once…
PS huge congrats on the marriage proposal – you'll be happy on the farm, I know it too.

Helen Romeo

]]> By: Todd @ The Personal Finance Playbook http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-184968 Todd @ The Personal Finance Playbook Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:17:51 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-184968 I'm glad you feel self-doubt about things, too, because you're writing is incredible. It makes people burdened with mediocrity feel better to know that people who are truly great have insecurities, too. Thank you for sharing those insecurities on this blog. I can't seem to stop reading post after post after post of all the great content here. You have an amazing gift and extra helpings of talent. I'm jealous of you. I admire you. Keep it up. All my best - Todd I'm glad you feel self-doubt about things, too, because you're writing is incredible. It makes people burdened with mediocrity feel better to know that people who are truly great have insecurities, too. Thank you for sharing those insecurities on this blog. I can't seem to stop reading post after post after post of all the great content here. You have an amazing gift and extra helpings of talent. I'm jealous of you. I admire you. Keep it up. All my best – Todd

]]> By: The College Student’s Alternative to the Lottery | Bizzy Women http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-184600 The College Student’s Alternative to the Lottery | Bizzy Women Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:27:45 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-184600 [...] student has self-doubt. In an old post on Penelope Trunk’s blog, she suggests just pushing through it (with a box of Oreos if you need [...] [...] student has self-doubt. In an old post on Penelope Trunk’s blog, she suggests just pushing through it (with a box of Oreos if you need [...]

]]> By: A Step Ahead » Blog Archive » The College Student’s Alternative to the Lottery http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-184486 A Step Ahead » Blog Archive » The College Student’s Alternative to the Lottery Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:02:49 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-184486 [...] student has self-doubt. In an old post on Penelope Trunk’s blog, she suggests just pushing through it (with a box of Oreos if you need [...] [...] student has self-doubt. In an old post on Penelope Trunk's blog, she suggests just pushing through it (with a box of Oreos if you need [...]

]]> By: Sam http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-184171 Sam Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:23:59 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-184171 Well, I think the two comments (from Barbara and 'anonymous') show that they are the ones who get jealous and cannot deal with it appropriately. Barbara, anonymous: you are projecting. (Look up the word in the dictionary). Every human being feels jealousy at times and to be honest about it, especially in print (with your real name and even a photograph; we do not know who "Barbara" and "anonymous" are) is beautiful. Makes it very easy for others to learn from that kind of a person. And besides, you ended this column showing how the friend you were jealous of helped you overcome your own self doubt. You ended it on a kind note. Great writing. I did some work as a columnist and was always told that it was because I put myself into my stuff so much that people were so taken by it. Keep up the good work :-) Well, I think the two comments (from Barbara and 'anonymous') show that they are the ones who get jealous and cannot deal with it appropriately.

Barbara, anonymous: you are projecting. (Look up the word in the dictionary).

Every human being feels jealousy at times and to be honest about it, especially in print (with your real name and even a photograph; we do not know who "Barbara" and "anonymous" are) is beautiful. Makes it very easy for others to learn from that kind of a person. And besides, you ended this column showing how the friend you were jealous of helped you overcome your own self doubt. You ended it on a kind note.

Great writing. I did some work as a columnist and was always told that it was because I put myself into my stuff so much that people were so taken by it.

Keep up the good work :-)

]]> By: Elly http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-181194 Elly Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:11:11 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-181194 Penelope, I agree wholeheartly with your post. Having spent the last several years trying to "make it" as an artist, and watching a number of colleagues become successful, some without trying very much, I have felt the ugly demon of jealousy, and the similarly ugly demon of despair - that I have no talent, no ability, and will never amount to anything. These feelings come and go, usually fueled by seeing others' work, and hearing of their success. Throughout this, I keep creating stuff that I like and hoping that others will like them. I dont think the self doubt will ever go away, but I dont let it stop me. Its nice to think that other people go through the same emotions, and get through it the same way. Cheers, Elly. Penelope,
I agree wholeheartly with your post. Having spent the last several years trying to "make it" as an artist, and watching a number of colleagues become successful, some without trying very much, I have felt the ugly demon of jealousy, and the similarly ugly demon of despair – that I have no talent, no ability, and will never amount to anything. These feelings come and go, usually fueled by seeing others' work, and hearing of their success. Throughout this, I keep creating stuff that I like and hoping that others will like them. I dont think the self doubt will ever go away, but I dont let it stop me. Its nice to think that other people go through the same emotions, and get through it the same way.
Cheers, Elly.

]]> By: jj http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-181040 jj Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:38:51 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-181040 A comment someone once made that rang true to me was: Don't compare your insides with someone else's outside. A comment someone once made that rang true to me was: Don't compare your insides with someone else's outside.

]]> By: Banu http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/comment-page-1/#comment-180756 Banu Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:43:53 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/08/21/how-to-cope-with-self-doubt/#comment-180756 Penelope, I like reading your posts. I followed the link in your last post, about being an artist, to read this very interesting topic. However, it is very difficult to read this post. I think your writing evolved a lot in the last 6 years, cause your current posts are easier to follow. Thanks for making me smile (and think). Love Penelope,
I like reading your posts. I followed the link in your last post, about being an artist, to read this very interesting topic. However, it is very difficult to read this post. I think your writing evolved a lot in the last 6 years, cause your current posts are easier to follow. Thanks for making me smile (and think).
Love

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