You have way more than you think

I decided to clean out my tea cupboard. In it, I found 5 unopened boxes of Bengali Spice tea. It isn’t as if these tea boxes are tiny and easy to miss, but miss them I did, over and over again. The reason I kept not seeing them was not only because my tea cupboard was a mess, but that I was afraid I’n eventually run out – and be without!

As a result, I ended up with this ridiculous overabundance of Bengali Spice tea.

Something similar happens to me when I doubt myself. I question my abilities in a particular area, even though I may have – literally – years of experience. I begin searching the internet for more courses to help shore up this imagined lack.

Then one day, I decide to clean out the drawer that happens to contain past successful work, certificates and accreditations, and realize I might even be a bit over-qualified.

Rather than being underqualified, I was the opposite! And I am far from alone in this: I see many other people, mostly women, who feel the same way, and end up spending a huge amount of time, energy and money proving to themselves that they really do have what it takes.

If you relate to my story, next time this kind of feeling begins to take over, take a moment to realize that you have way more than you think.

Quote of the Week

Our doubts are traitors, 
and make us lose the good we oft might win, 
by fearing to attempt.

• William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

We’re doing too much (and it’s killing our happiness)

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Maryanne Nicholls is a Registered Psychotherapist.  To find out more, gain access to her weekly newsletter, meditations and programmes, sign up at www.thejoyofliving.co .