Have you ever felt like you shouldn’t be doing what you love? Not because you don’t love it, but because you feel like a fraud? Maybe you don’t feel like a “real artist,” a great parent, a successful entrepreneur or an expert llama farmer...
Whatever it is, you love to do it or maybe even feel called to do it, but you’ve made so many mistakes. Countless obstacles keep coming up and those around you seem to do it better.
This is exactly how I felt and honestly how I still feel from time to time.
I can list SO many reasons why I shouldn’t be a photographer. Just to name a few...Not getting into any photography classes in high school after trying so hard each year. Accidentally formatting (which I now know means deleting) the incredible touch-down photos I took at my high school homecoming football game for the yearbook staff. Finally being able to learn photography from an incredible professor in college, who had to retire a month after I started the semester. Or when I got really sick right when my photography business was starting to take off in NYC and I had to put it on hold for a year.
When these things happen I think, “ Who am I kidding? I can’t do this? Why am I doing this? This is too hard!”
Deep down I feel like I should be doing this and I do love it, but then why is it so difficult?! Why do I still struggle so much? Why is it so much easier for others?”
There is SO MUCH FEAR!
“One of the hardest lessons we ever have to master is accepting that all fear comes from within..." -Sarah Ban Breathnach
To be honest, I still doubt myself and struggle when the next hurdle comes. However, (and I’m so glad there is a however) when I keep trying, I have those “Ah-ha” moments every now and then that reassure me that it’s been worth the struggle. The fog of self doubt goes away and I remember that I have grown so much and that I can do this. I continue to learn and serve those around me and then I’m able to confidently say, “Yes, I’m a photographer.”
“The bottom line is not how fast you make your dream come true, but how steadily you pursue it.” -Sarah Ban Breathnach
Have you had any of these same thoughts? If so I’d love to hear how you got past them. Or maybe they still come up from time to time and in that case it would make me feel so good knowing I’m not the only one. Feel free to share this with a friend who may need it!