How To Stop Self Doubt From Killing Your Dreams
How to stop self doubt when that little voice in our heads is slowly killing our dreams, insisting on telling us we are not good enough and not capable of accomplishing great things?
This nagging noise holds us hostage of our own thoughts, calling into question every decision we have made, leaving us drowned in doubt and fear of failing.
With so many questions running through our minds, we become unresponsive to action and unable to keep moving forward, ending up stuck and settling for less than we deserve.
There is not a person that has never been plagued by indecision. We have all been there, but that doesn’t mean we cannot do anything about it.
Lack of confidence and limiting beliefs that make us downplay our skills and abilities are the primary culprits for self doubt. Next thing we know, hesitation crops up taking over our lives, and subsequently, our actions.
Don’t be discouraged! Here are six ways you can shush that vile little person inside you and claim back your power.
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.
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#1 Stop The Negative Self-Talking
Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you're worth the trip.
Pay close attention to what you have been saying to yourself. You are worth it and capable of greatness. Don’t let past experiences dictate your future.
There is not a successful person that hasn’t failed numerous times. That is how they learn and come back up stronger.
What differentiates them from the rest of us? Persistence! They never gave up on their dreams.
Negative self-talking will trick your mind into believing you don’t have what it takes to succeed, instilling self doubt.
For every great idea or opportunity, it will come back with a thousand reasons why it won’t work, giving you no time to digest all the information.
Silence this poisonous voice in your head, taking over the conversation. You do the talk!
Look yourself in the mirror and shower your awesome self in praises. Don’t be shy!
Write down your goals and ideas with a plan attached to them. Get excited about putting your plan into action.
Concentrate on the positive outcome desired and the reasons why you will succeed.
#2 Don't Compare Yourself To Others
There will always be someone prettier, smarter, fitter, funnier, and more successful than you.
No one measures themselves against people that are struggling. Why waste time and energy focusing on another person rather than on your own?
Comparing yourself to others is a sure way to bring insecurity and unhappiness to your life.
Self doubt will speak louder here if you allow it. Wow, Karen accomplished XYZ in one year, and I am here spinning my wheels. I must be doing something wrong. Maybe I am not good enough.
Meanwhile, on the other side, plenty of people would do anything to switch places with you.
Focus on your journey and the path you are in. The only person you are competing with is yourself.
Aspire to do better today than yesterday following a plan and taking massive action. Smash your insecurities with self-confidence.
#3 Imposter Syndrome
It's not who you are that holds you back; it's who you think you are not.
Imposter Syndrome is when you are convinced you have been deceptive in making others believe that you are far better than you actually are. You are not deserving of your accomplishments, even though you have worked very hard to achieve them. Fearing people will perceive you as a fraud.
Stop. It. Right. Now. This feeling is very damaging to your self-esteem. You must fight it, knowing your worth and believing in yourself.
Don’t give self doubt permission to stick around. If you did the work, give yourself credit.
Celebrate the small wins, recognize when you do a good job, and pat yourself on the back. Be proud!
Let others know what you have been up to and the milestones you have reached.
Don’t confuse bragging with spreading positive news about your achievements. You will get people fired up and motivated.
Show them you are the real deal. It will be a boost to your confidence!
Treat yourself with the deserved respect and no more letdowns! No one needs that, especially you.
#4 Don't listen to the Naysayers
Indecision will kick in if you listen to the naysayers. For every idea you have, they will offer a few problems in return.
If you are not 100% committed to your goals, there is a good chance their comments might influence your decisions and make you lose focus on why you are doing what you do.
Each step you take will be accompanied by doubt. Questioning if you should remain invested in your pursuit.
My suggestion is not to entertain them. Keep your eyes on the prize. Don’t invite self doubt to come in. Shut that door!
#5 Connect With People That Will Push You Forward
Tune in to a motivational self-help podcast to bring clarity of mind and loads of encouragement to empower you to continue taking action and move forward. It could seriously change your life!
I love Dean Graziosi’s energy and Brendon Burchard’s unshaken optimism. When I listen to them, I feel hopeful and reenergized. Ready to conquer the world! Hesitation gets nowhere near me.
Sometimes we need to hear from someone else’s perspective to be more self-assured about our endeavors.
Talk to like-minded people around you, join a mastermind group. It is exciting to learn from others’ experiences while sharing yours.
Surround yourself by action takers that are continually seeking self-improvement, and you will become one of them.
When we are too busy chasing our goals, we leave no space for self doubt to sneak in.
#6 Quiet Your Mind
If you are struck by indecision and unable to make choices, take a break.
Stop everything you are doing. Make sure you are following a self-care routine that includes meditation and exercise.
Check this post for great self-care tips that won’t cost you any money.
Get outside in nature. The fresh air will make you feel happier, energized, and improve your concentration so you can better focus.
Spend at least ten minutes a day in quietness. While your thoughts run wild, concentrate on your breath.
The goal is to quiet the mind and mute all the noise. This practice will assist you in regaining strength.
You Got This!
Proactively, we can stop hesitation from cropping up and feel more confident about our decisions.
When the voice within us starts to act up, trying to cause trouble demanding us to retreat, fight back!
Believe in yourself, recognize your worth, have a plan, cancel the noise, celebrate your victories.
Never stop taking action, look for the positive in every situation, and take care of yourself.
Rest assured, self-doubt won’t ever win again if you apply these 6 bulletproof steps.
Have you been plagued by self-doubt? What did you do to stop it from ruining your dreams?
10 thoughts on “How To Stop Self Doubt From Killing Your Dreams In 6 Bulletproof Steps”
This was a super helpful article about something that SO MANY of us struggle with. I think what resonated with me most is to connect with people who will push you. It’s important to surround yourself with folks who are on a similar track, and who just get it. Those are the ones who will have what you need when you’re questioning, right? Thanks for this!
Yes, absolutely! We need supportive like-minded people to keep moving forward and not naysayers to hold us back.
Great tips for staying motivated to reach your goals! It can be so easy to give in to doubt, but I love how you broke down the steps necessary to keep self-doubt from creeping in. Really great read. Thanks!
Thank you Alyssa! 🙂
Excellent article with practical and easy to practice tips. Enjoyed reading it. Thanks!
Thank you Surabhi! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this and thanks for the podcast recommendation. I’ll hVe to check them out.
Thank you, Desiree 🙂
What a great article! It’s always good to be reminded of these tips!! Xx
Thank you, Janey 🙂