At some points in our lives, we question our capabilities or second guess a difficult decision based on fear or doubt in ourselves. Self-doubt occurs when we lack confidence or feel incapable of doing things we need to do.. And a certain amount of this is healthy, but persistent self-doubt can become an unhealthy consuming way of life if you’re not careful.
We all have doubts, no one is free of them. The key to dealing with doubts is to make the decision to think optimistically, even in difficult situations.
Picture this:
Your boss has assigned you an important task or big project because they think you are the most suitable and capable person they have.. But instead of taking it as a recognition of your talents and hard work, you panic.
You panic about whether you are capable of doing a good job, about failing to perform well, you worry about disappointing your boss, and being judged if your work is not up-to-par. You spend time stressing over every single decision you make and picturing what will go wrong.
Ultimately, fear will then play a big role in your process, and it leads you to delay your work and feel unmotivated.
At the end of the story, you turn in your work at the very last minute, and, of course, you will have the feeling of “I should have done better and worked harder on this. It’s not good enough.”
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” ~
One of the most negative aspects of self-doubt are those of exaggeration and over-generalization. When you begin to doubt your capabilities, the mountain of things you think you can’t do or aren’t at good at piles higher and higher. When this happens, sometimes it induces panic and this helps to feed the fears and negativity. It quickly becomes a cycle that is hard to come out of! So how do you even begin?
Shifting your perspective from distorted thinking, to accurate thinking is one of the biggest ways you can begin to root out our doubts and begin to deal with them in healthy ways. When you think accurately about situations, you can overcome your negative emotions about them.
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.”~ Hanoch McCarty
Here’s some tips to help you Take Back your Power and root out doubts:
- If you have doubts about yourself, articulate in your mind the reasons why you think you cannot accomplish your goal, and write down reasons why you can. Having a visual reminder that you realistically can accomplish your goals is a powerful motivator and can help you break the cycle of doubt and panic.
- Take a break and boost your optimism. Sometimes we just get worn down by the task at hand, and need some space to help us regain proper perspective. If you find yourself worn down by your surroundings and everyday tasks, take a moment, get outdoors and—if anything, take a few deep breaths of fresh air.
- Don’t be afraid to ask others for help. Sometimes, advice is all you need— sometimes you may need assistance. If you’re in over your head, others will understand and likely respect your efforts, as well as be willing to help you complete your task. Sometimes, teamwork is the very best way to reach your goal or to complete a difficult task. Asking for help with whatever you need can also help you feel less alone. Don’t be afraid to lean on others every once in awhile!