How Does A Blogger Combat Questioning Their Worth?

Have you ever had that momentous moment, a light-bulb scenario, where you come up with this absolutely, amazing, fantastic idea for a post, so you start planning that post, deciding on the main points, how you're laying it out, the general direction, whether it's long or short, sweet or savvy, only to find that somebody has else has published their version of your ideas on the same subject already?

Being in the business of blogging and books, it happens more often than I'd like. As much as I'd like to say it doesn't bother me, it does. I'm left questioning myself, my ability, my knowledge, my words, how much I've learnt and what it means to be teaching other people because I love it. It leaves me wondering..

What's a girl to do when she questions her worth?

I receive a lot of praise for my content, both from friends in the business and people I admire and look up to, and it feels absolutely amazing, it's like winning an award every time, and yet it's still not enough. It's not enough to stop the voices telling me my words don't matter. It isn't enough to stop thinking my input isn't as worthy as somebody else. It isn't enough to stop me questioning myself, and everything I do, say and think.

I guess it's one of the many downsides of suffering from mental illness, the downside of never feeling like you're enough, the feeling that what you're doing isn't really as amazing as people say it is, or you think it is. For every compliment I receive on my content or my link-ups, there's plenty of not-so-great thoughts too.

Is what I have to share different to what's been said before?

Everyday, there are bloggers all around the world, typing their first words, creating their first social media profiles, taking the first step on their journey, and it's highly likely their content with be extremely similar to somebody else's already online. Whether it's a case of inspiration, copying, or plain not being aware, the issue of originality is one that is rife amount of community, so it's easy to see how somebody can start to question whether what they have to say is really worth saying, especially if it's already been said before..

In the past, I've taken inspiration from other bloggers and their content, and there's never been anything wrong with that, but surely it's impractical to assume that just because somebody else has said something, you can't put your spin on the topic too? Surely it's impractical to think that your words have any less importance or should be held in a different regard just because somebody has tackled the subject before you? Is it understandable, that sometimes, I feel like a fraud, like my words and my imput, and my gift to the world isn't good enough, in comparison to somebody else?

It'd be silly to never write something ever again, or share a tutorial or a discussion, or a deep-rooted negative thought, or an inspirational, positive piece, because it's what I do, and I know that in the real world, it's appreciated, it's loved, it's enjoyed, and what I have to say and do is enough. I know I shouldn't question my worth, because as long as somebody is listening, as long as my well timed words keep somebody typing, creating and achieving, then I'm doing something right.

Sometimes though, just sometimes, it's harder than you think..

Have you ever questioned your worth and your words?