When Doubt Creeps In: How I Return to Myself
How do you deal with self doubt in your creative practice?
That’s a hard one. For me, self-doubt comes in waves — especially in the “in-betweens.” You know, those moments when life slows down and you return to the mundane: back to work, back to routine. Everything feels a little numb, and suddenly, you start questioning yourself. Am I doing enough? Am I good enough? Why isn’t the next project, event, or opportunity just around the corner? Why did last week’s post blow up, and this one barely got seen? That pressure to always be on top of my game can make me forget about the process — forget that I’m just human. A human with a uterus, which definitely affects my energy levels every month.
Self-doubt shows up often, and I used to let it consume me. My overthinking and OCD tendencies would spiral until I felt paralyzed. I can’t even count how many times I’ve tried to be an artist. This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve experienced so many failures — and for a long time, I didn’t understand that failure is just information. That doubt is just a feeling. Without that understanding, I’d give up.
What changed everything for me was therapy. I worked with a therapist who specialized in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for a year and a half, and it completely shifted my life — not just in my creative practice, but in my relationships and my sense of self.
It didn’t happen overnight. I had to learn new tools and practice them consistently. I had to fail at using them sometimes too. But over time, I learned how to regulate my emotions, manage my mindset, and recognize when I was spiraling into doubt. The most important thing? I learned I could take action instead of sitting in the discomfort, stuck.
Here are a few tools I now use when self-doubt creeps in:
Breathwork. I’m someone who feels a lot in my body. Doubt shows up as shame, disappointment, or embarrassment, and learning to locate those feelings physically — then breathe into them — really helps.
Create more. Honestly, not to toot my own horn, but when I create and see the finished piece (or even just the process), I remind myself: I really am that girl. I’m talented. I’ve come a long way. Creating helps move the energy and reconnects me to my “why.”
Move my body. Since I feel so much physically, movement is key. Dancing, yoga, working out — anything that helps me release stagnant energy and shift focus away from the spiral.
Step out of routine. Visiting art events, museums, nature walks — anything that soothes my nervous system and inspires me. I’ve found that doing sober, grounding activities alone or with others helps me get out of my head and into the world around me.
These tools have helped me regulate my emotions and quiet the doubt. I've been an emotionally intense person, often stuck in my own head — but now I know there are real, actionable ways to navigate those moments.
As creatives, we open ourselves up to the world in vulnerable ways. I’m a sensitive person, and when I share my work, I often imagine how it’s being perceived — which can easily lead to feelings of embarrassment or second-guessing. But I’ve come to realize that what I’m doing is courageous. I’m creating the kind of work I want to see in the world.
That comes with a responsibility — to care for myself, my thoughts, my body, and my creative practice.
Creating is a deep part of who I am. I didn’t realize how much it shaped my day-to-day until I started taking it seriously. I truly believe that to create is to take responsibility — not just for your inner world, but for your impact on the outer world.
And that responsibility starts with how you treat yourself — including how you speak to yourself in those moments of doubt.
