Moving Beyond Second Guessing: Embracing Your Inner Wisdom
As I sit here, fingers hovering over the keyboard, I can't help but reflect on the complex relationship I've developed with my identity as a writer. For the past month after returning from my sabbatical, I've found myself in a peculiar dance with my creativity—blogging consistently, yet shying away from my deeper passions of poetry and novel writing. This is on the tail end of releasing my first poetry collection, and less than 9 months after publishing my first novel.
It's as if there's an invisible barrier between me and the stories my soul is here to tell, even though I’ve already seen the dream through not once, but twice now, as an author. I’ve achieved the status of best-seller for my poetry collection and five thought-leadership anthologies I’ve been featured in.
Yet—I still hit this wall when I think about writing my heart and soul projects. Our human doubt can run deep!!!
All my passion projects? I haven’t touched them except to “brainstorm” in a while now, somehow convinced whether I can do it or not!
My sweeping science fiction saga, space operas filled with pirates and politicking...
Eco-lit that explores the awakening of countless souls who can hear the Earth’s consciousness...
Historical alt fantasy that explores a human race that experiences a rare genetic mutation that lead to the birth of the Elven race...
These stories want to be told, but it’s like I’ve been sitting on my own hands with doubt.
Many of us struggle with mental blocks or limiting beliefs that hold us back from fully expressing ourselves. If you’re struggling, know you’re not alone!
This internal struggle isn't new. For years, I've battled with Egoic Parts of myself that whisper it's selfish to indulge in fiction writing when I possess other skills to offer the world. My sabbatical in June was a watershed moment, forcing me to confront the deeply ingrained belief that my worth was tied solely to my work as a therapist and guide/coach. The decision to step back from seeing 20+ clients a week wasn't easy. I grappled with my self-image, questioning if I was somehow less valuable or impactful by choosing a different path.
But here's the truth I'm learning to embrace: my writing is just as impactful and needed by the world as my other work. My stories, my poems–they have the power to touch hearts, spark imagination, and even heal in their own unique way. It's a realization that's both exhilarating and terrifying to me, and I admit, my Egoic Parts don’t quite know what to do with it yet.
This journey of self-discovery and the battle against self-doubt is precisely what led me to explore this topic more deeply in a recent livestream of my Align & Shine podcast with my colleague Meryl Hayton.
In our episode, we dove deep into the universal challenge of self-doubt and second-guessing ourselves. As I shared during our discussion, "I second guess when I'm not sure how things are going to play out." This fear of the unknown can be paralyzing, keeping us tethered to our comfort zones and preventing us from fully embracing our potential.
But here's the empowering truth we uncovered: Each of us has an inner compass, what I like to call our "sacred and sovereign yes and no." The key is learning to trust it again, especially when it's guiding us towards uncharted territories.
During our session, we explored several powerful techniques to help reconnect with our innate wisdom:
Affirmations: We discussed the power of positive self-talk. One of my favorites that emerged during a recent conversation between Meryl and I was, "I am just doing my thing and I feel really good about it." It's simple and powerful!
Energy Clearing: I guided listeners through a visualization exercise to clear away the cobwebs of doubt from their energy field. This practice can be incredibly refreshing and empowering.
EFT Tapping: We demonstrated a potent tapping sequence designed to release fears and doubts stored in the body. This technique is particularly effective because it addresses both the emotional and physical manifestations of self-doubt.
Meditation: We explored connecting with our higher selves and anchoring into moments of pure joy as a way to access our inner wisdom.
One of the most powerful moments in our discussion for me was when I emphasized, "The only real failure is not doing it." This resonates deeply with my own journey as a writer. Every time I choose to write, even when doubt creeps in, I'm succeeding. Every word on the page is a victory over self-doubt.
We also delved into the importance of self-compassion in this process. As I shared during the podcast, "If you've experienced trauma and you have lost touch with that intuition for some reason, because it felt unsafe to do so, now is an invitation to really forgive yourself for that because you were surviving at the time." This gentle acknowledgment of our past struggles can be incredibly healing.
And as one of our viewers shared, "Trust yourself and trust the process." You have the power to step into your dreams with confidence, whether that's writing a novel, changing careers, or any other leap of faith your heart is calling you towards.
If you'd like to experience the full transformative power of our Align & Shine episode, including guided meditations and tapping sequences, I invite you to watch the complete video on our YouTube channel. It's a powerful resource you can return to whenever you need a boost of confidence and clarity!
Ready to dive deeper into overcoming self-doubt and embracing your inner wisdom? I'd be honored to support you on that journey. Reach out to explore working together in a one-on-one session or through my comprehensive SOUL SUGAR program. In these personalized settings, we incorporate all of these powerful techniques and more to help you align with your highest self and step boldly into your dreams.
As for me, I'm recommitting to my writing practice with renewed vigor. I'm choosing to trust that my stories matter, that my voice deserves to be heard. And I invite you to do the same— whatever your passion or calling may be.
Remember, you are divinely guided always. It's time to trust that guidance and shine your brightest light. Your unique gifts—whether they're stories, art, healing work, cooking, coding, or anything else—are all needed in this world.
Don't let self-doubt and second-guessing dim your brilliance any longer!
All My Love,
Safrianna Lughna
The Queer-Spirit Guide
A Woman's Work is an evocative memoir in the form of a free-verse poetry collection exploring the complexities of growing up as a girl in modern America.
Over three poetry arcs, Safrianna addresses false narratives around womanhood, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Through vivid imagery and raw emotion, she gives voice to her traumas, outdated beliefs, and the ingrained patterns within herself and society.
From heart-wrenching to fiercely freeing, these poems offer snapshots of radical truth along the transformational path from disempowerment to embodied self-love. Her authentic voice and candor speak to women's resilience and the ability to transmute shadows and light as we reclaim ourselves.
Want to read? You can get a copy on Amazon!
This month, I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge and share wisdom gleaned from my sabbatical, butterfly medicine, and more. Feel free to follow along if you want to learn more about my story! #UltimateBlogChallenge https://www.ultimateblogchallenge.com/
Want to chat with me directly? Join the LivingLUNAs Discord: https://discord.gg/5UkGZb9kYp
