You’ve done the hard part.

You have a clear vision of what you want out of life, and you are ready to take the leap and take action.

You are armed with your favorite journal, and you finally have the time to sit and not only strategize but start crossing things off the list.

But a new adversary has entered the chat…self-doubt.

Oh, that sneaky self-doubt can come in when you least expect it and turn a projected productive day into a stay-in-bed-watching-your-comfort-show kind of day.

There have been many times when I encountered self-doubt on days right after I felt on top of the world. As the pressure to “get things done” intensifies, I feel increasingly inadequate to accomplish any goal I set for myself.

So when this big bad wolf comes to blow down your dream house – so to speak – what can you do to bounce back?

Let’s explore what self-doubt is, where it comes from, and a few strategies to strengthen yourself against it to bring back your shiny, confident self.

What is self-doubt?

Self-doubt is defined as a lack of confidence in one’s abilities. When you are experiencing it, self-doubt can feel like a weight that is holding you down, draping you from the light of what makes you a unique, skilled individual.

Although it can show up differently for everyone, common ways it manifests include:

• Second-guessing decisions you make or have made
• Hesitation in taking action
• Struggling to think positively about yourself

Where does self-doubt come from?

While it is an internal feeling, it can stem from perceiving external judgment, encountering a new obstacle, or just a feeling that spirals into negative thinking. It can happen to anyone at any time; it is just a matter of finding ways to reduce the effects on your overall well-being when it does show up.

3 Tips to Quickly Overcome Self-Doubt

Here are a few quick methods I used with clients (and my personal life) to overcome feelings of self-doubt.

1. Organize your thoughts

Identify what is true and what is a negative, fleeting thought that is sticking around too long.

Meditation can be a helpful tool to quiet the mind and offer a moment to quiet your mind. If meditation is something you struggle with (anyone else have ADHD?), a minute or two of deep breathing can be enough to “reset” your thinking patterns on refocus.

2. Remind yourself of your past achievements

Referring back to triumphs you’ve had in the past can help you readjust and steer your mindset in the right direction. By reminding yourself of what you have already overcome, you can harness the strength of a past you to help your present self.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to keep an accomplishment journal that you can refer to when you need that extra boost of confidence. There is also no shame in calling up your bestie to give you your flowers. ;)

3. Take the smallest steps, one at a time

If you operate using a list of tasks, find the smallest or easiest one and try to work through it. Just complete what you can. Even if it isn’t perfect, you can always call it a first draft and come back to it.

The important thing is that you have started to get your mind focused on something other than limiting beliefs. And that mental shift is also something that can be crossed off the list!

---

All of these tools can be helpful wherever you find yourself on your journey to reaching your goals. But remember, self-doubt can always creep in if you are not regularly checking in with your thoughts and indulging in a little self-care now and then.

Self-doubt happens to everyone from time to time, and it is not a measure of mental strength or abilities if it happens to you.

As Jimmy Eat World likes to remind me on my daily playlist, “it just takes some time…you’re in the middle of the ride”. 

With these 3 tips on how to overcome self-doubt, you will be well on your way to staying the course for any goal you set to achieve.

It is one thing to learn solutions, it can be another to employ them in the moment, especially when you are new to working through these challenges.

When is the best time to use which method? How to reduce self-doubt from steering you off course in the first place?

If you’re ready to go deeper, I would love to be that support. You are welcome to contact me for a free call to learn more about my services. Working with a coach provides personalized support to help you implement tools that support you through all your goals.