Creative Habits: C = Confidence in our ability.
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Many years ago I was given one of those motivation posters to keep on my desk – you know, posters with a picture and a quote underneath. It was a very 90′s thing and you saw them everywhere (and still do in some offices…).
Although the subject on my poster was ‘Goals’, what really struck a deep chord within me was the quote underneath.
“If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours”
It’s a quote from Henry David Thoreau, a 19th Century American author and philosopher. You may know his writing.
Why did it strike a chord with me? To begin with because I wanted to believe it to be true. I wanted to believe it was possible for my dreams to come true.
And you know what? I now believe it is true. That’s not to say all of my dreams have come true (which is just as well in some cases), but many have.
To gain those successes we dream about we need to be confident in our ability. We have to trust ourselves and what we are doing to achieve our dreams, our endeavors. They can and do lead to success – expected and unexpected.
We need to be confident in our ability to be creative.
Even today whenever I feel I need a boost in confidence in my creating ability I walk over to the poster and read it aloud. I take the time to contemplate what it means to me. To re-establish my confidence.
Try it next time your creative confidence falters.
“If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours”
Do you have a quote or saying that strikes a chord with you? I’d love you to share it with us.
PS. This is a photo of sunset over the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt from our boat on the Nile. It was always a dream of mine to visit Egypt and as you can see I achieved my dream!
