The Anatomy of Self Doubt

Self-doubt can be aptly described as a triad of self-inhibiting attitudes and actions that hinder our progress. It includes:

1. Doubting oneself.

2. Doubting one’s abilities.

3. Negative self-talk or talking oneself out of taking necessary actions and steps.

Conquering self-doubt breathes life into our dreams and aspirations—it’s the catalyst that jettisons us towards our desired successes, whether that be launching a business, creating a course, a financial upgrade, buying a house, or acquiring your dream car.

The starting point for squashing self-doubt is having faith in oneself, the very opposite of doubting yourself.

Steps to Eliminate Self Doubt

Now that we’ve defined self-doubt and its implications, let’s dig into some practical tips to help you overcome this mental block:

1. Identify Your Strengths and Challenges

The first step to annihilating self-doubt is self-awareness. Grab a pen and paper, divide the paper into two sections, and list your strengths in one section and your challenges in the other. Your strengths are abilities that naturally come to you—your God-given gifts or talents.

Your challenges, on the other hand, could be weaknesses or shortcomings that you believe are holding you back.

2. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths are paramount. They serve as your fuel propelling you into positive actions towards your ambitions. Concentrate on your strengths and let them guide you towards achieving your goals.

Remember

3. Improve Your Shortcomings

Our challenges can often contribute to our feelings of self-doubt. Yet, as the saying goes, "iron sharpens iron". Work on improving your shortcomings. This might involve taking a course or watching some YouTube videos on the aspects you consider as weaknesses. As you work on these shortcomings and begin to see improvements, your confidence will naturally increase, consequently reducing your self-doubt.

4. Speak Positively to Yourself

Overcome self-doubt by rooting for yourself and being your biggest cheerleader. You are the voice inside your head. Choose to feed your mind with positive self-talk rather than self-criticism.

Remember to:

1. Watch your words.

2. Talk yourself into actions.

3. Affirm yourself.

5. Write Down and Rehearse Your Self-Affirmations

Finally, write down your self-affirmations and rehearse them daily. Transfer your thoughts from your mind into words. Write down your goals in present tense as if they have already been accomplished, then rehearse them every day. This practice is not only therapeutic but also converts your self-doubt into self-belief.

Stepping Forward

Self-doubt can be an insidious blockage to our progress, hindering us from reaching our full potentials. But with a clear understanding of what self-doubt is and using the practical tips provided here, we can overcome self-doubt, transform our self-beliefs and confidently pursue our dreams.