Shame is the silent killer of dreams and ambitions. It is the feeling that arises when you contemplate something that for whatever reason, is appearing too big for you, too ambitious, too beyond your skills. Sure, maybe those “other”, “more talented” people can do that… but they’d just mock you if you tried. And there’s no room for learning. No room for growth. No, you need to show them by being perfect and a rock star from day one.
These wounds you carry around with you rarely stop you with dramatic, gale-force, lightning-cracking drama moments. No, where they really block your path is in the smallest decisions of whether to do a task, or not. These minor decision-switches are where it all really happens.
Your cherished dream starts with actions. As you look at the actions, you feel cowed. Who are you to be doing this? Others probably are far better at this than you. Maybe you’re really just a failure overall. Maybe it’s better to just stop for the night and watch some TV. Stop before you embarrass us all, all over again.
Feel how small that little switch is. Just one little thought - one small choice between whether you’re going to work on it now, even a little, or set it aside and come back “some other time, when you’re feeling more confident” (more well-informed, more skilled, etc.). In other words, never.
The origin of the shame is not important. You can always work on healing it later. What is important is what you do in that small gap, that little spark between whether you choose growth or not, whether you let this wither your dream, or drive your will onward to persevere in spite of that shaming voice.
For now, just take action. You'll find that confidence comes as you begin to wade into the task itself. Make your dreams happen no matter what. Flip that switch. Persevere, and go forward.
