Writing | Workplace Bullying | Confidence

Medium Writing Is Helping Me Rebuild My Confidence One Article At A Time

How workplace bullying destroyed my confidence in my writing skills

Over the past three months, I’ve published five articles. After many years of doubting my writing skills, I’ve finally taken my first steps towards rebuilding and restoring my confidence.

During this time, I’ve spent a lot of time on Medium — perhaps too much — reading, analyzing, and trying to understand the Medium platform. It wasn’t easy. But, I’m pleased to say I think I now understand the basics.

Although I may be a new Medium writer, I’m not someone without professional experience. In addition to a degree in Communications, I also have a specialization in — you guessed it — writing.

During my 20-year career in corporate communications, I took pride in telling employers I could write anything and everything except for poetry. I know it sounds incredibly arrogant but it was true. While I’ve never been a creative writer, I was a damn good corporate writer.

There was a time I really could write anything and everything that was thrown my way. Over the years, I’ve researched, ghostwritten, and published content in a wide range of sectors. From building science, nanotechnology, and healthcare to electric power, social responsibility, and luxury alcohol, I was a quick study. You name it; I could write it.

But 5 years ago my confidence in my writing abilities came crashing down. A corporate shuffle left me fighting for survival against a younger, less experienced manager who applied a scorched earth approach to anyone with knowledge, skills, and experience.

This manager turned a positive work environment into a toxic one. While I tried my best to adapt, I didn’t succeed. It left me with the gift that keeps on giving — General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

But enough of that. I’ve moved on.

Last year, I, or should I say my husband, discovered Medium.

At first, I thought I’d died and gone to reader heaven. The sheer variety of content amazed me. I was like a kid in a candy store reading anything and everything. While the quality of articles often varied, I most admired those writers who weren’t writing in their Mother tongue. Reading their content, I gradually began thinking I could write again.

Picking up on my reading addiction, my husband suggested I try writing an article.

I hemmed and I hawed. But, eventually, I gave myself a kick in the you-know-what and just started typing.

So I thank you Medium for helping me to find my voice.