4 Strategies to Overcome Self-doubt
Most of us face self-doubt at some point in time. Some people experience it every day and some, once in a while. Self doubt comes out when that little voice in our heads questions our abilities and casts shadows over our goals and dreams. However, self-doubt doesn't have to be the permanent talk show host for our lives. With the right techniques and a resilient mindset, you can overcome self-doubt and embrace your true potential.
Your inner critic is the main instigator of self-doubt. One thing you can do to turn the tables on this negative voice is to question its statements. When doubt whispers, "You can't do this," respond aloud with "Why not? What evidence do you have?" This approach shifts your mindset from passive acceptance to active examination. The more you challenge your inner critic, the weaker its grip becomes. And if you feel silly talking aloud to yourself, it’s okay, it’s about growing despite discomfort. Push past the weirdness or talk in front of a mirror to make it slightly less weird.
Another idea to tackle self-doubt is to embrace what I call "fear setpoints." Just as our bodies have temperature setpoints to maintain stability, we have fear setpoints that dictate our comfort zones. Pushing these boundaries disrupts self-doubt's influence. Regularly engage in activities that make you slightly uncomfortable – public speaking, trying a new skill, or networking with strangers. Over time, your fear setpoints will recalibrate, and self-doubt will struggle to keep pace. Remember it’s all about baby steps, so turn up the heat slowly and self-doubt will be gone before you know it.
Yet another idea is to choose a song that makes you feel confident and empowered. If you enjoy writing, create your own lyrics that align with your goals and aspirations. Singing this "confidence anthem" to yourself, especially during moments of doubt, can be surprisingly effective in boosting your confidence. Music has the power to connect us with our feelings and emotions, and is the perfect way to create a personalized self-empowerment tool. If creating lyrics from scratch isn’t your thing, a challenge I give to some clients is to remix a favourite song, and keep some parts of it but just change the big idea or main details to match your life. As an example, if you were a fan of the show Fresh Prince, try remixing the theme song and using the same framework, write your own life’s journey and upcoming transformation. Then recite it to yourself over and over until you believe that outcome is possible for you too and your self-doubt will wither away.
Lastly, instead of looking up to accomplished individuals for their successes, search for interviews or read their autobiographies where they share their moments of vulnerability, doubt and even failure. Recognize that even the most successful people have faced self-doubt at some point and if they overcame it, so can you. Self-doubt is a natural part of growth, not a sign of inadequacy.
The path to confidence isn't linear, and even if it doesn;t come naturally to you, you can develop confidence over time. Purpose in your mind to not hold on to self doubt for long periods of time but rather confront it, examine it, and challenge it. Try new strategies and make note of what works for you and add it to your toolkit. Don’t doubt yourself, you’ve got this!
