Self-doubt is a lack of confidence regarding yourself and your abilities. It’s a mindset that holds you back from succeeding and believing in yourself. Humility is a healthy character trait to have, but if it's at your own expense, it's no longer beneficial. We all experience feelings of self-doubt from time to time, whether we're starting a new job, taking a test, or playing a sport. That's perfectly normal. Self-doubt is a mental habit that most people fall victim to, but when you leave it unaddressed, it can lead to problems like overthinking procrastination, and self-sabotage. Learn about methods for dealing with self-doubt and increasing your well-being. You are so much stronger than you realize. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you’re not. Not even you.
What Is Self-Doubt?
Self-doubt is a feeling of uncertainty about yourself that leads you to question your identity, your abilities, and potentially your self-worth. Self-doubt can arise in any situation requiring you to take action or step outside of your comfort zone, from going on a first date to applying for a new job. To a certain degree, self-doubt can be healthy, leading you to develop new skills or prepare for novel situations. On the other hand, excessive self-doubt breeds indecision and self-criticism, preventing you from taking risks that can help you grow.
Causes of Self-Doubt.
At one point or another, we all question whether or not we are doing enough, making enough money, or if we are going to be “successful” enough. I know this firsthand, as I’ve spent long periods of my young adult life in a persistent state of fear and self-doubt. Anxiety and overthinking can cause self-doubt. Anxious people constantly overthink different scenarios, imagining all of the possible ways that things can go wrong.
Fear of failure can cause self-doubt.
Perfectionism and a fear of failure reinforce feelings of self-doubt. In a state of self-doubt, you may attribute your past successes to luck, downplaying your true abilities.
Pass trauma can cause self-doubt.
Self-doubt is often a result of negative life experiences, which can adversely impact your self-esteem. Worrying about what other people think can cause self-doubt. When you care about what everyone else is thinking of you, you inhibit yourself. You’d rather do nothing and not get judged than do something and risk criticism. Worrying about what other people think of you will continue to hold you back from doing something potentially huge for yourself.
Others have been in the same situation.
We like to think we’re unique snowflakes. Everything revolves around us. If we encounter some hardship, it only applies to us. But no matter what you feel, know that others before you have felt the same way. They’ve been down that road.
Yes, even if they are what you would consider successful. Especially if they’re successful. Why? Because people who excel tend to be the ones who put themselves out there, who try things and fall flat on their faces. Those who don’t try new things don’t fall. They don’t go through the doubt that someone who takes a risk faces.
You’ve Made It Through Everything So Far.
Think back to the hardest thing you ever did in your life so far. What is right for one person isn’t necessarily right for another person. You may be doubtful that you’re capable enough to do something, or doubtful that you’re even headed in the right direction. It takes time, thought, and trial to figure it out. When you go back to that time, you’ll realize that it wasn’t so bad after all. You survived. You are much stronger than you think.
Celebrate your successes.
Don’t get bogged down by everything you still have to do. Write down a list of things you’ve achieved and what you’ve learned. Especially when you’re setting up a new business, you go through a huge learning curve from quoting for projects to bookkeeping. Your newly acquired knowledge and skills are precious. Celebrate. Be proud of yourself. Accept that self-doubt is normal it’s a sign you’re learning and developing. Fighting self-doubt leaves me more frustrated, so I’m learning to accept it. I remind myself I’m only fearful because I’m learning new things. Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.
Remember Your Past Achievements.
Remember when you may have been scared to do something, in school or work, but it ended up going well? It helps to reflect on concrete achievements where something challenging for us turned into something great. A lot of achievements are born out of initial uncertainty or doubt. It helps to remind ourselves about the times when things have gone right because the same thing could happen in the present moment.
On the flip side, it’s good to not focus too much on the past or past failures we might have had. The present moment is a new opportunity to do well, even if things didn’t go right the first time.
Write in a gratitude journal at the end of each day.
It’s far too easy to wallow in pity and focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. Giving those feelings energy will only create more situations in which we come up empty-handed. Instead of focusing on what you are lacking, focus on what you do have and what you have accomplished. This fosters a feeling of gratitude, and when you invest energy into gratitude now, you’ll start to find that you’ll be rewarded in the future. Feelings of gratitude put you in a positive frame of mind. When you’re feeling positive, you’re feeling good. And when you’re feeling good, good things happen.
Try to Not Compare Yourself to Others.
They say that comparison is the thief of joy. This saying rings true in many ways. If you’re experiencing self-doubt because you’re afraid you won’t accomplish something at the same level as someone else, then it can be a paralyzing feeling. Everyone’s journey and ideas of success are different. Try to train your mind to step away from unfavorable comparisons. Seek instead to embrace kindness and a positive attitude. It's hard work, but it pays off. What we can control and focus on is our path and where we want to take it, regardless of where other people are at or what they have done. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Speak to a mental health professional.
Therapy is a vital way to learn self-compassion and get to the root of what’s causing your self-doubt. Many people with anxiety disorders or chronic self-doubt benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involves unlearning negative cognitive habits that cause you pain.