Everyone has times in their life when they have self-doubt and feel inadequate and incompetent. But some of us feel that way more often than others.
Many people are so busy putting themselves down they fail to thrive in life. They stop trying to learn and better themselves. They become discouraged and depressed. Do you sometimes feel like you may be one of these people?
Maybe your self-doubt stems from some negative experiences early in your life. For example, if people made fun of you when you were younger, you might doubt your abilities even today.
Traumatic experiences can cause a vicious cycle of self-doubt in your mind. Family, friends, and co-workers can sometimes unwittingly say things that have a powerful impact both good and bad. So, how do you turn things around and stop that nagging voice in your head that says you’ll never be good enough?
Erase self-doubt and be more confident
Here are some tactics to help you erase that doubt and become more confident:
1. Let Go of Negative Criticism of Yourself
This applies to both past and present. Don’t let a jerk of a boss ruin your day by simply adding their voice to the tape player in your head. Realise that they may be taking their anger out on someone else because of their own inadequacies. People’s negative attitudes speak volumes about them, not about you. Here are some things you can do to let go of negative criticism of yourself…
- Stifle your tendency to criticise yourself. By agreeing with those who criticise you, you’re giving them all the power.
- Pay no attention to that voice in your head that’s saying you’re going to fail. If you stop listening, it will get quieter and eventually disappear.
- Reclaim your life by believing that you CAN succeed.
- Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you.
2. Prepare Yourself and Do Your Best
It’s not enough just to think positively; you have to actively pursue success as well. Visualising your end goal can help you make the right choices, but no one can do the work except you. One way to overcome self-doubt is to write down your positive qualities. Make a list of at least 5 good things about you. Every day when you wake up, read the list. Reading aloud will also help you to believe the items you’ve listed.
The positive thinking will help prepare your mind to succeed, but there are other ways you can help yourself achieve your goals as well:
- Set reasonable goals. Decide what you want to do within a set amount of time. Keep your goals realistic so you can meet them. If you set unrealistic goals that you can’t meet, you’ll quickly become discouraged. Start out small and get bigger with your dreams.
- Get busy. Inactive people easily become depressed. To avoid this unpleasant situation, immerse yourself in achieving your goals. Hard work will always pay off in the end.
- Revel in your success. Self-doubters tend to think they don’t deserve to succeed. But you do! You deserve a reward for conquering your self-doubt and becoming more confident. You deserve to be honored for your hard work and perseverance. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Just remember you can’t reach the top of a mountain in one giant leap; it can take many steps along the way to reach the peak. The same is true of success and achieving your goals.
Taking baby steps and attaining many small successes will bring you the confidence to reach your ambitions. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the journey to becoming the self-assured person you know you can be. It’s a wild ride, but it’s well worth it in the end
Here’s to your success!
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I’m passionate about inspiring people to tap into their unique talents and strengths – to be the best they can be – to fulfill the potential they always knew they had. It’s not about ‘fixing’ you. Rather, it’s about helping you access the best part of yourself so you’re able to make the changes, release the dragons and powerfully step into your brilliance.
If you are interested in performance coaching, try my free 20-minute introductory session. Just respond to this email with your name and what challenges you are having – I’ll then arrange a time and date for us to chat by phone or face-to-face.
Get in touch TODAY by email or call my office on +44 (0)20 8798 3433.
Mark Russell Inspired Performance Coaching – Dedicated to Your Success.
