Ways to stop doubting yourself

“I seek strength, not to be greater than other, but to fight my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself” 
― P.C. Cast

Self-doubt is something we all experience at one point or another. It makes us impose limits and stops us from performing at our true potential. It shows up unexpected and we need to find the power within ourselves to stop it from affecting us deeply. The key to overcoming it is venturing beyond our comfort zone and gaining more and more confidence along the way. I am writing this blog post because I almost all the time self doubt myself , doubt that I have nothing , I fear my possibilities. We all are emotionally stable for others and emotionally sensitive to ourselves , difference is just in the in the level of sensitiveness .

1. Stop comparing yourself to other people

This might be one of the most harmful things that we do during our lives. Comparing our low moments with someone else’s highs is something that seems to have become a reflex for today’s society, especially due to social media. We highlight the good and the moments that we are proud of, and often hide what we truly, deeply feel. I believe no one should even consider comparing themselves to someone else, as everyone has different  belief and a different set of experiences that have impacted them positively or negatively, that we probably don’t even have a clue about. We don’t have a perfect life, as the people we’re comparing ourselves with don’t. A better thing would be to compare ourselves to ourselves, reflect on what we’ve overcome in life, how far we’ve got and how we can work on ourselves continuously. See your self worth not by degrading others but by acknowleding others and yourself equally.

2. Forget about what everyone else thinks about you

When you are too concentrated on what everyone’s opinion of you is, you risk missing out on opportunities and inhibit yourself for the sake of not being judged or criticized. You’d rather be neuter and not draw so much attention on yourself, because of the fear of not doing something that people will talk about negatively. Continuing this behaviour might stop you from doing something potentially amazing for yourself or limit your performance at work and your social life. Take a look at your role models and people you really appreciate – does everyone agree with their actions? I’m sure there are some people who don’t. Let go of the fear and discover your true potential.

3. Use affirmations

What you need to learn is that positive feelings and thoughts don’t always come naturally. Sometimes, you need to repeat, and repeat, and repeat, until you are ready to act accordingly. Using mantras that increase your confidence and make you see that you have no reason for doubting yourself is very beneficial for your mind. As you might have noticed, many times you feel you cannot overcome certain things because you keep telling yourself that you’re not good at them or you don’t want to look a certain way, thus imposing yourself countless limits. You need to practice and implement positive mantras in your daily routine, until you are in sync with your mind.

4. Surround yourself with people who make you see your worth

Oftentimes, you only need reassurance. You need to find people who appreciate you and lift you up when you need it, that let you know you are loved and are worthy of everything you have. These people are not everywhere. They are not so easy to find. So take a look around, figure out who is loyal to you and truly cares about you, and nurture those relationships. Remember that quality always trumps quantity. Be there for them and you will, in turn, draw strength and confidence from them.

5. Stop the thought

Even though, depending on the situation, it is better to confront the problem and find a practical solution, sometimes stopping the thought and not giving it time to control us is the better choice. When you feel that doubt is overwhelming, you can push it away and, in turn, fill your mind with a positive thought or memory of yours. Don’t settle too much on the thought, because the longer you let it free, the harder it will be to get it out of your head. Become aware of what you’re feeling and thinking and be in control of yourself, so you can eliminate the negative before it settles.

6. Reflect

As I always say, being aware of where we are and what we want to change is the first step to reaching our goals. I know, it’s really easy to focus on what we don’t have and wallow in self-pity (I do it a lot). We need to decide what we are going to put our energy into and how to change our focus and be prepared for any situation. So, instead of thinking about what you are lacking, reward yourself for how far you’ve come and push the doubt aside. Ask yourself “How much more accomplished would I feel in life if it wasn’t for my self-doubt?”, and then work towards creating a path for yourself where you can act to your full potential.

7. Get a boost of optimism

With every problem you encounter, there are countless books, podcasts and speeches that will offer you a different perspective and a confidence boost. 

8. You can course-correct along the way

Getting stuck trying to take a decision is a perfect way to make self-doubt surface. Try to take a decision as quickly as possible and you will surely be able to correct it along the way. Usually, your first reaction will be a great choice as it comes from intuition and is not distorted by other people’s opinions. Think about a situation where you felt you took the best decision possible and it didn’t turn out so well: nothing is sure and we cannot control the future, but our actions and how we handle everything. If you feel something is wrong, you can change it along the way.

DON’T LET OVERTHINKING SILENCE THE VOICE OF YOUR PASSION

Self-doubt dims your light. It doesn’t let you see what you’re really capable of. It distorts your visions, both of yourself and of your goals. When you are afraid of failing, you don’t really allow yourself to explore and discover what truly calls to you in this world. Understand that life is made of uncertainties and you cannot let that stop you from going after what you want.
Self-confidence is not something we are born with, but something that we need to build in order to allow us to live a better life. When you change your thoughts and behaviour, you will, in turn, improve your perception of yourself and your limitations. You need to silence the mind and believe that great things await for you just outside your comfort zone.

PROVE YOUR MIND WRONG

“If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” ― Vincent van Gogh
With small actions, we begin to overcome the doubt. The more you do a certain thing, the more confident you become, thus getting the courage to aim for bigger and bigger goals. You need to prove your mind that doubts don’t have any foundation. They are not something you should trust and certainly not something you should listen to.

“Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” ~Unknown

Happy mother's day to all of you . Only our mother's are confident enough of us that we can do everything and anything in life . She knows our potentials , she is always there for us . 

 Xx-Prabhleen kaur