Do you ever feel paralyzed by self-doubt, questioning your abilities and second-guessing every decision? You’re not alone. Many of us struggle with feeling unsure of ourselves, and over time, it can lead to inaction, anxiety, or even missed opportunities.
The good news? Self-doubt doesn’t have to control your life. In this blog, we’ll explore dealing with self-doubt and provide actionable strategies to help you move forward with confidence.
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Why Is Dealing with Self-Doubt so Difficult?
When self-doubt creeps in, it often feels overwhelming. Imagine being asked to take on a big project or deliver a presentation. Your mind might immediately spiral into thoughts like:
- What if I’m not good enough?
- What if I fail?
- Why did they choose me for this?
These thoughts can feel automatic and all-consuming. They’re part of your brain’s natural tendency to protect you by anticipating potential risks. Unfortunately, this protective mechanism often backfires, leaving you stuck in a cycle of overthinking.
The key to breaking free is learning how to deal with self-doubt in ways that align with your values, instead of letting fear dictate your actions.
The Science of Self-Doubt
Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening in your mind. Self-doubt often stems from cognitive fusion—a psychological term that describes being “fused” with your thoughts. For example, when you think I’m not good enough, it feels like an absolute truth rather than just a passing thought.
This fusion fuels overthinking and keeps you stuck in fear. But here’s the empowering truth: You don’t have to believe every thought your mind generates. Self-doubt is just a thought, not a fact.
By learning how to deal with self-doubt, you can create space between yourself and these unhelpful thoughts, allowing you to take action even when fear is present.
Practical Ways to Deal with Self-Doubt
Breaking free from self-doubt is a process, but it’s entirely possible with the right mindset and tools. Here are some practical strategies to help you:
1. Identify Your Triggers
Start by identifying the situations that tend to bring up self-doubt for you. Is it public speaking? Taking on new responsibilities? Social situations?
Reflect on recent moments when self-doubt showed up. Ask yourself:
- What was happening at the time?
- What specific thoughts or fears came up?
By recognizing your triggers, you can start to anticipate when self-doubt might arise and prepare yourself to respond differently.
2. Defuse from Unhelpful Thoughts
One of the most effective ways to deal with self-doubt is to create space between you and your thoughts. This process, called “defusion,” involves recognizing that a thought is just a thought—it’s not an absolute truth or a command you need to follow.
For example, when you think I’m not good enough, try saying to yourself:
- I notice I’m having the thought that I’m not good enough.
This simple shift helps you take a step back and observe the thought, rather than being consumed by it.
3. Focus on Your Values
When self-doubt takes over, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. Instead of letting fear guide your actions, reconnect with your values—the things that are most important to you.
Ask yourself:
- What’s meaningful about this situation?
- Why is it worth doing, even if it’s uncomfortable?
For example, delivering a presentation might align with your values of personal growth, sharing knowledge, or helping others. By focusing on your values, you can make decisions based on what matters most, rather than what feels safest.
4. Visualize Success
While self-doubt tends to focus on worst-case scenarios, we tend to forget that’s just one possible outcome. It’s also equally possible that you can have a positive outcome. Since you’re probably a pro of picturing the negative outcome, I want you to actively train your mind to imagine the positive outcomes instead. Take a moment to visualize what success might look like:
- How would it feel to deliver a great presentation?
- What would it look like to confidently share your ideas with others?
Visualizing success reminds you that positive outcomes are just as possible as negative ones. It helps balance your perspective and build confidence.
5. Take Small, Courageous Steps
You don’t have to eliminate self-doubt to take action. Instead, focus on taking one small step forward, even if fear is present.
For example:
- Say “yes” to an opportunity, even if it feels uncomfortable.
- Break a big task into smaller, manageable steps.
- Ask for help or guidance when needed.
Each small step builds momentum and reinforces your ability to move forward, even in the face of self-doubt.
6. Practice Sitting with Discomfort
Learning to sit with discomfort is a powerful way to deal with self-doubt. Fear and self-doubt don’t have to go away for you to take action—they can coexist with courage.
When uncomfortable thoughts or feelings arise, try this exercise:
- Acknowledge the feeling without judgment.
- Take a deep breath and ground yourself in the present moment.
- Remind yourself that discomfort is temporary and doesn’t define your worth.
Over time, this practice helps you build resilience and confidence.
Key Takeaways: Ways to Deal with Self-Doubt
Here’s a quick summary of the strategies we’ve covered:
- Recognize Your Triggers: Understand the situations that bring up self-doubt.
- Defuse from Thoughts: Treat your thoughts as opinions, not facts.
- Focus on Your Values: Let your values guide your actions.
- Visualize Success: Imagine positive outcomes to balance your perspective.
- Take Small Steps: Build momentum with small, courageous actions.
- Sit with Discomfort: Allow fear to exist without letting it control you.
Next Steps
Dealing with self-doubt doesn’t mean eliminating it altogether. Instead, it’s about learning how to respond to it in ways that align with your values and goals. Self-doubt is just a thought, not a fact—and by building awareness and practicing the strategies we’ve discussed, you can take back control and move forward with confidence.
The next time self-doubt shows up, take a moment to ground yourself, reconnect with what truly matters, and take one small, courageous step forward.
What’s one small step you can take today to deal with self-doubt?
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re ready to dig deeper and gain personalized guidance, here are two ways to connect with me:
- Schedule a Coaching Call
Let’s work together to address your unique challenges with self-doubt. During our free intro call, we can explore how best coaching services can help you meet your goals.
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And as I always say, I encourage you to continue nurturing your mind, body, and soul, whatever that looks like for you.
