The gap of doubt, how do YOU get out?!

[kg]

Quote:Me again!How often/if at all do you fall down the self doubt gap in the floorboards...and how do you get back up and out again? There's a way out !?! I know you've got plenty of answers to go around, but I just wanted to add one more reassuring you're-not-alone to the list. I have a love-hate, rather almost hate-hate relationsihp with everything I write. I don't think I'll ever feel like anything is good enough, but that's ok as long as I feel like I'm still progressing. I try to remind myself that a song is only an amazing song if it touches the listener in some way. Maybe you're not the listener for your song, but someone is. The major accomplishment is writing that song that has a million listeners Hang in there. Maybe the only way to keep from falling in the cracks is to continue to grow until your too big to fall in

[stansongman]

I'm totally Godly and New-Age spiritual, so the book totally worked for me . By the way, I live in Nashville. You want to talk about the potential for developing self-doubt! But, somehow every day I wake up and pinch myself, then sit down and write a song. So, here's my armchair advice. Doubt, like guilt, is a killer! If you really look at where the doubt comes from, it's almost always due to some external influence - someone else's opinion, comment or feedback, etc. Usually negative (as opposed to constructive) feedback comes from people who can't let you succeed, because it blows their cover (that no-one can make it). Affirming to yourself everyday that you are a talented and unique writer and artist is necessary. Try turning your self-doubt (negative) into self-awareness (positive). Knowing where you really shine helps you channel your energy to maximize your strengths, and also to start working on the areas that aren't so strong. We've all got 'em! Also, remember that you have an audience out there. What are the odds that you are the only person on the world who thinks and feels like you do? Pretty small I'd think. I agree with Doug, "The Artist's Way", if you really take it seriously and follow it like a 12-step program, can change your life. I know it changed me for the better. I saw description of a workshop that NSAI has during their symposuim called "Dare to Suck"! I think that's great! There's no glory in playing it safe, but there's lots to be learned by taking risks. And in the end, all you can personally control is how deep you dig emotionally, what you create. Then, all you can do is put it out there, and the universe will do with it what it will. Forgive yourself for past creations that you can now do better, that's all part of learning and growing. A good friend once said to me that there's a long road from the open mic to the Grammy stage, and the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. There's a home for everyone of us somewhere on that road. Just keep walkin'. Good luck!

[bleuciel]

The doubt is a part of my life. It's always there in and out. I've learned to live with it. It's terrible when I get returns . It vanish a bit when I have forwards... But my deep thought is that sentence of Guillaume d'Orange: "There is no need to hope in order to undertake nor to succeed in order to persevere."Good Luck!

[feaker]

After getting my three custom critiques back with 5's and 6's and a few comments back from the forum I was pretty bummed. Looked down to the keyboard to type and my vision was restricted. Upon further investigation, found out it was my lower lip

[hummingbird]

Quote:After getting my three custom critiques back with 5's and 6's and a few comments back from the forum I was pretty bummed. Looked down to the keyboard to type and my vision was restricted. Upon further investigation, found out it was my lower lip If it makes you feel any better, Paul, I've been there. I started there. I lived there. I had a cat there, and I think the cat rated me at 2 across the board.how can we help?

[linziellen]

What wonderful replies! I've been messing about a little too close to that gap again lately. I've thrown myself into writing but from time to time I get tapped on the shoulder by the ugliest monster I've ever seen ( no one I know) who asks me what the hell I'm doing and even laughs at me! I'm pretty good at bottling my fears and doubts which I know I shouldn't. It's all about sharing these feelings before they drag you down, even if it's only with the stick insect you think may have actually died some weeks ago....thankfully however I have my TAXI buddies who I'm very fond of Thank you.

[Mark Kaufman]

Hey Lindsey, I don't know if anyone else already mentioned this or not...but you do realize that's a killer hook, don't you?"The Gap of Doubt"You've got dibs!

[linziellen]

I wondered about that myself Mark lol thanks, maybe I could come up with something. Also "Fighting the Perfectionist" might make for another notch on the old list lol, not that there's much of a list but still!

[Casey H]

One thing I know that feeds my doubts is when I ask a lot of people's opinion's on a song. One hand, it's easy to be a junkie for hearing what everyone thinks (I am one), but too many opinions can drive one batty. It's easy to be on the a "she loves me, she loves me not" roller-coaster ride. Don't get me wrong-- opinions from other songwriters and musicians are extremely valuable. You need to find out how someone who never has heard your song before perceives it. And if many people point out the same thing such as the hook not being strong, the bridge not working, etc. it usually is something you need to work on.Sometimes I have to step back and say, OK... what do I think? Casey