There are all kinds of common clowns: funny, sad, scary, and the ever-popular creepy clown. I wanted to bring attention to a lesser-known clown, the Clown of Self-Doubt. This clown lurks in the background and gets inside your head and dreams, like Freddie Kruger but with face paint. And when you start pushing your boundaries, doing something out of your comfort zone… Bam! There it is, the Clown of Self-Doubt.

They start by doing something funny (being a clown). They lure you in, get your attention, and get you to chuckle. But then say the most simple, benign thing that’ll throw you right off balance. Something that gets you thinking about how you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re not that skilled or intelligent. You may start to feel like a loser. Then you tell yourself, who am I to think I could do something so incredible? That’s crazy talk!

Well, there is hope because I firmly believe that when this clown gets in your head and starts clowning around, that’s when you’re getting to the good stuff, the stuff you should be doing. The more uncomfortable this silly clown makes you feel is your signal that you’re on target to push harder. Give it more gas and see this clown for who it is; a joke with obnoxious makeup smeared on its face!

Pay attention when you feel a bit out of your comfort zone, scared, and unsure of yourself. And when that clown shows up, feel that burst of power and inspiration that comes with facing your fears and dreams… I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the magnificent view from the other side.

Because on that other side, the clown disappears completely.