Comments on: I Think I’m Going Crazy

By: David Forrester

David Forrester — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:15:36 +0000

Interesting post. We all have self doubt and if we don’t I believe there must be something wrong with us!
So then, if we all have it why do most of us avoid admitting it?
FEAR!! We’re afraid of appearing weak.
When we can finally realize the weakness is in trying to hide, we then become stronger and more powerful.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:06:39 +0000

great post. i’m not in a ministry role as far as leadership, but i think most of us struggle with this in our everyday lives.
i have one friend who i feel safe spilling all my self-doubts to. a few other friends i feel pretty safe doing so also, but not like the one friend.

By: Erik Cooper

Erik Cooper — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:18:31 +0000

Absolutely fabulous post Brad, and a fascinating take on self-doubt as a sign of aspiration. I’ve always felt as a leader that the people I naturally want to elevate are rarely the ones that are brash and self-confident. There usually the ones I see greatness in that are struggling to see it in themselves.

Great truth for my own life as well…we all fight it, it’s just that only some of us are willing to admit it.

By: joseph

joseph — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:15:59 +0000

Something that I am very much struggling with at the moment.
I have been in search of a mentor figure and someone I could talk to about career and life struggles.
So far no luck….really need that “great” friend to lock into.

By: Jeff Honold

Jeff Honold — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:10:45 +0000

This is something that a lot of us deal with and I appreciate you (and Pete) bringing this up as it is timely for me.

In addition to my wife I am fortunate enough to have two other people that I am able to discuss this with. I think it’s vital that you have someone that will not only listen but respond in truth and love. One I meet with on a weekly basis and the other is one I know I can pick up the phone and call whenever I need to.

By: Pat Rowland

Pat Rowland — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:17:14 +0000

great post brad. every honest leader deals with this. If you aren’t doing something for the kingdom that makes you a little uncomfortable, then you probably are not following God’s calling.

That person for me is my wife mostly, but I also have a couple of other people that I can get on the phone or grab coffee with that can talk me off the edge. We all need them!

By: b/

b/ — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:04:00 +0000

I’m just kidding. Unfortunately for about five men in my life that live in different parts of the country and do ministry in completely different settings and ways, they hear my doubts and struggles on a fairly consistent basis. They help me process what’s going on and how to respond in a healthy way as opposed to reacting in a very unhealthy manner.

And I have a few very close friends that I’ve surrounded myself with here in Auburn that are also sounding boards and offer wisdom.

I put off a sense of arrogance I think that is a real frustration for others as they deal with me, but I know its overcompensation for a high degree of self-doubt. I’ve only gone to the depths of this with my wife, but I’ve discussed it in more detail with the aforementioned men as well.

I think perhaps my issue with the prideful air is a symptom that many self doubters probably deal with. As a result I’m always saying, I need to work on my pride issue, or I need to not be so prideful and boastful all the time, when in truth what I need to work on is my own self confidence. Perhaps then I wouldn’t feel the need to be prideful in every area, I’d just be confident in who I was and not need the extra attention. Hey, that might be a post in and of itself…I’ve solved my problem…yeah right. (sorry for the last conversation I just had with myself)

By: b/

b/ — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:56:54 +0000

I’m not sure I should respond here….
I don’t feel real comfortable about it…

By: Anonomously yours...

Anonomously yours... — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:15:22 +0000

Aside from God… who sometimes I struggle to hear because at times he whispers rather than screams at me… I don’t have that “one person” who I can talk to about the things in my life that keep me up all night. It’s a comfort I lack and have been seeking for a long time… an unbiased sounding board, if you will.

I am that person to many… but I have not been able to find that person in return. I can handle things internally to a point but after that, I shut down. I hate that feeling.