Self-Doubt is the lack of confidence in yourself and your abilities. And it can keep you from doing the things you want to do and it can keep you from reaching the goals you’ve set for yourself. In fact, it can be quite paralyzing, keeping you from moving forward.
And, who likes to be stuck where they are at – particularly when you’re not very happy about where you are at.
But what can you do when you’re doubting yourself? It’s simple and the solution is found in the first sentence of this post, which is a definition of self-doubt.
The key to banishing those doubtful feelings and the little voice in your head that tells you that it can’t be done is confidence. The key then is to boost your confidence. And, you can do that in a multitude of ways.
I find it helps to find something that closely relates to whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish.
Sometimes looking back at how far you’ve come and how much you’ve accomplished can be huge confidence booster. This works well if you’re already working on something, but are afraid to take the next step. Seeing everything you’ve already done may give you just the boost of self-confidence you need to keep doubt at bay.
Finding your own personal cheerleader and advisor or mentor can also be helpful. If this person knows something about what you’re trying to do, all the better. Having someone there to hold your hand or cheer you on from the sidelines might be just what you need to get going.
Breaking down an overwhelmingly big goal into smaller tasks is also helpful. It doesn’t take nearly as much confidence to tackle that one little task. And, completing it builds confidence… which you can then use to work on the next little task.
Little by little you’ll make progress and eventually reach your goal without having to worry about the big picture the whole time. If overwhelm is an issue for you, this is a great strategy to deploy.
The main thing is to acknowledge the feelings of self-doubt, but not letting them take control over your life. Yes, it’s normal to doubt yourself. It happens to all of us. They key is to not let those feelings take over.
Instead, do what it takes to get you moving and working towards your goals despite the doubt and the little voice in your head that says that it can’t be done. Because, guess what… that voice is usually wrong. You’re capable of so much more than you think you are. You just need to proof it to yourself.
