- Feb 5, 2002
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An honest look at ourselves is different from not loving ourselves as God does.
Somewhere, stashed away on the hard drive of a computer, is a failed novel I wrote about 15 years ago. I wouldn’t mind that much if it became lost forever, but in another way, that would feel like a tremendous loss. Yes, the writing and plot are terrible and it’s not a good novel, but it’s my novel. Tucked away in its digital drawer gathering dust, its existence is similar to pulling out a penknife and scratching my name into a tree trunk to prove I was here. I lived. I wrote. Even though I’m embarrassed to show it to you.
My novel is the absolute worst, but the reason I bring it up is because, when I think about it, I feel an overwhelming urge to criticize myself.How could I have written that? Do I even know how to write? If people knew it existed, would they ever read my essays again? I’ve had to come to terms with these questions and put them in perspective. There’s a fine line between honestly admitting that the novel isn’t very good and constantly criticizing myself, which leads to continuing anxiety and self-doubt.
Continued below.
The secret to overcoming unhealthy self-criticism
Somewhere, stashed away on the hard drive of a computer, is a failed novel I wrote about 15 years ago. I wouldn’t mind that much if it became lost forever, but in another way, that would feel like a tremendous loss. Yes, the writing and plot are terrible and it’s not a good novel, but it’s my novel. Tucked away in its digital drawer gathering dust, its existence is similar to pulling out a penknife and scratching my name into a tree trunk to prove I was here. I lived. I wrote. Even though I’m embarrassed to show it to you.
My novel is the absolute worst, but the reason I bring it up is because, when I think about it, I feel an overwhelming urge to criticize myself.How could I have written that? Do I even know how to write? If people knew it existed, would they ever read my essays again? I’ve had to come to terms with these questions and put them in perspective. There’s a fine line between honestly admitting that the novel isn’t very good and constantly criticizing myself, which leads to continuing anxiety and self-doubt.
Continued below.
The secret to overcoming unhealthy self-criticism
