Stop holding yourself back

Teresa Shimogawa

（自我懷疑是創造力最可怕的敵人。任何時候我們都要明白，自己才是生活的主人，不要依賴別人對你的判斷和評價，而要相信自己“我能行”。）

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” —Sylvia Plath

Singing well has always been something I have wanted to do. As a kid， I loved to make up songs. The problem was that there was no one around to tell me it was any good or anyone who knew enough about music to give me courage. I thought this meant I wasnt good enough.Hiding became normal because I loved music， and since I thought I wasnt any good， why put it out there for anyone to criticize？ I was too sensitive for such judgment.

When given the opportunity in later years， I always believed I was no good. The question that seemed to always ring out was， “Do I have what it takes？” When no one answered， I thought the answer was， “No！”Why even try？ Everyone had told me I wasnt good enough. Inside I was asking the question “Can I？” and the response was “No！” It took me a long time to realize it wasnt the world， my music teacher， or even my mothers job to answer the question “Can I？” It was my job.

One day I decided I wasnt going to take no for an answer. This thing called music screamed inside to be let out. Finally， I decided songwriting and singing had been gifted to me for a purpose， and I was going to see what that purpose was. Now， I still ask myself the wrong questions but more and more I ask myself the right one. Why wouldnt I？ Try it and see what happens in your life. Not relying on others to answer a question that only you should do will make you feel powerful.

（下次遇到生活中的難題時，不要問自己“我可以嗎”，而是要問“我為什么不可以”。）

Vocabulary

creativity ?n. 創造力

criticize ?v. 批評，指責

sensitive ?adj. 敏感的

scream ?v. 尖叫，吶喊

rely on 依賴