If there’s one thing I could change about my life, it would definitely be shedding that forever-scared attitude that stayed with me until my twenties. Participating in college placements was something I saw as a nightmare back in 2016. The feeling of self-doubt kept mounting with every job interview that didn’t go my way. My confidence dwindled, and I started believing that I didn’t deserve a job.
Many of my friends tried to console me, saying that things would eventually get better and that I shouldn’t let a bad phase affect me. But when self-doubt takes root in your mind, it doesn’t really matter what others say or believe. I was clearly selling myself short, which only led to a severe inferiority complex. When I finally got placed with one of my dream companies, I looked back at the placement period as a life-changing lesson.
Self-doubt is just another way of holding yourself back from pursuing your best self. It’s like pushing away every amazing opportunity that comes your way, believing that you don’t deserve good things in life. It’s a limiting belief, more like an illusion created by your own mind – just like fear.
But the truth is, there’s no fear that can’t be overcome. So if you’ve been doubting your ability to conquer the world, now is the time to finally let go of it.
Here are a few tips and tricks that have helped me overcome self-doubt, which you can apply to your own life to stop doubting yourself once and for all:
1. Accept and Embrace the Feeling of Self-Doubt
I started developing severe self-doubt at the age of 15 when I was asked to participate in a debate competition. As an underconfident teenager, the fear of being judged for speaking my mind in a debate gripped me. I felt anxious, self-conscious, and frightened. I only breathed a sigh of relief when it was over, and I walked away with nothing.
As I participated in more public speaking competitions during school and college, I realized that self-doubt can turn against you if you refuse to accept it. Think of it as an inner critic that keeps you from becoming overconfident. Acknowledge it as an inner voice that exists to teach you why you need to give your best in every situation.
2. Take Cues from the Past
When self-doubt tries to tell you that you can’t achieve the goal you’ve been aiming for, remind yourself of times in the past when you actually achieved your goals and overcame self-doubt. Think about how you got over an ex you thought you’d never be able to forget.
Whenever I doubt myself, I remind myself of the times when I built my business with zero self-belief. Taking cues from the past helps me realize that if I could do it then, I can do it again.
3. Be Vocal About Your Thoughts
Keeping your thoughts to yourself can often amplify the feeling of self-doubt. When you start thinking you don’t have it in you to reach your goals, talk to someone who is willing to listen. Share how you feel and how your thoughts are stopping you from pursuing your best self. Being vocal will help you realize that you’re not alone in this journey, and that everyone occasionally faces self-doubt. Additionally, talking to someone might help you see things from a different perspective.
4. Do Not Compare Yourself to Others
The tendency to compare yourself to others is often the main reason for self-doubt. I am guilty of this many times in the past, and the only lesson I’ve learned is that comparison always magnifies self-doubt. You look at a picture of a friend posing outside their new house, and your inner self starts believing you’ll never be able to have one. You see people going on vacations twice a year, and you sink into a cycle of self-doubt, thinking you’ll never be able to give that life to your family.
If you start thinking you don’t have the ability to achieve what others have, remind yourself of how far you’ve come. Compare your present self to your past self and measure the distance you’ve covered in terms of personal growth and financial health.
5. Stop Worrying About What Others Feel or Think
I’ve seen people doubt themselves because others doubted their abilities. Meanwhile, those who didn’t let others’ opinions affect them often ended up more successful.
If you’re always worried about what others think of you, you’ll stifle the urge to do something great with your life. Let’s be clear: no one really cares what you do. And if they choose to doubt you, let go of those people.
6. Surround Yourself with Believers
The people you surround yourself with help shape who you become. Self-doubt can be contagious. If you’re surrounded by people who constantly doubt themselves, that feeling might creep up on you too. So, seek out people who can boost your confidence and who are willing to share their belief in themselves with you.
I won’t be lying if I say that I still face self-doubt from time to time. There are moments when I feel like I’m not good enough to set my sights on certain goals and dreams. However, my past experiences have always helped me realize that self-doubt is just a limiting belief that exists in my own mind.
Self-doubt is a destructive inner voice that only you have the power to silence. So, every time you feel like you’re not meant for good things in life, remind yourself of your ability to pave your way to those very things. End that self-doubt once and for all!