Self-doubt is akin to being tethered by an invisible chain, hindering one’s ability to progress. Despite having completed one’s studies, acquired the necessary skills, and graduated, self-doubt creeps in, whispering that you’re not prepared, not competent enough, or undeserving of new opportunities.
Self-doubt can be paralyzing, negatively impacting work, leading to mistakes, and fostering feelings of loneliness and isolation. It can make you believe that you will never belong. A pervasive fear of the unknown drives it.
Where does self-doubt stem from?
It can originate from a challenging childhood, particularly in an environment lacking encouragement or support—parents who doubt themselves inadvertently model self-doubt for their children. Additionally, experiences such as bullying, humiliation, and criticism can foster self-doubt. Over time, we learn to doubt our abilities, talents, skills, experiences, appearance, and the quality of our education. Furthermore, mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and trauma can exacerbate self-doubt.
Most self-doubt is rooted in cognitive distortions, where our thoughts about ourselves are skewed negatively. These negative thoughts make us hesitant to engage in activities, apply for jobs, or connect with others.
Marc Chernoff writes: “When times are hard, it can be difficult to follow your heart and take another step, but it’s a tragedy to let the lies of fear stop you. Although fear can feel overwhelming and defeats more people than any other force, it’s not as powerful as it seems. Fear is only as deep as your mind allows. You are still in control. So take control!”
One effective way to reduce overthinking is to journal. Write down everything that’s on your mind without holding back. Let it all out on paper so it no longer consumes your thoughts. Then, review what you’ve written and challenge your fears and anxieties.
Putting your doubts or experiences with imposter syndrome on paper can be an excellent way to release them. After seeing your concerns written down, you may realize they’re less detrimental than you initially thought. It can help you gradually overcome self-doubt.
Strategies to Overcome Self-Doubt
1. Seek Support: Initiating conversations with someone can help you articulate your feelings, gain better insight into and address your self-doubts, and realize you are not alone in feeling lost and isolated.
2. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Spend time with people who appreciate and value you. Refrain from letting negativity affect your mindset. Embrace the world’s beauty, even when others may not share the same perspective.
3. Release the Past: Acknowledge that life is a combination of highs and lows, similar to the ebb and flow of the ocean. Embrace imperfection and recognize the goodness in life.
4. Monitor Your Achievements: Shift your focus from the pain of a situation to the sense of hopefulness by altering your thoughts. Every experience, even those that do not unfold as planned, contributes to your growth and strength.
5. Avoid Making Comparisons: Understand that your purpose in this world is not to meet the expectations of others and vice versa. Forge your unique path without comparing yourself to others.
6. Investigating failures and understanding why things went wrong is essential. Instead of dwelling on mistakes, use them as learning opportunities for the future. This practice can help build confidence and train you to remain self-assured, even in risky situations.
7. Have faith and Believe. “If you express an intention, consider it the intention of God. How then could you doubt that it could be fulfilled?”
? Reality Transurfing Steps I-V
How to Break the Habit of Self-Doubt and Build Real Confidence – CreativeLive Blog. https://www.creativelive.com/blog/how-to-break-the-habit-of-self-doubt-and-build-real-confidence-mel-robbins/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/506076.Vadim_Zeland
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