Self-doubt: it causes us to fear new opportunities, and we lose motivation to grow because of it. Self-doubt can occur due to multiple reasons, such as lack of confidence, lack of knowledge, past experiences, or comparison.
Research shows that over 85% of people suffer from self-doubt. Can you imagine how many of us are all having the same negative thoughts about ourselves? So many times, we compare our potential and confidence to those around us, yet they too are doubting themselves.
Doubting ourselves stops us from taking on new risks and opportunities, it can keep us stuck where we are, and it can cause us to feel paralyzed. Below is a list of common types of self-doubt, along with tips I want to share with you to help overcome them.
- Imposter Syndrome: Imposter syndrome is the fear of not being enough or seeing one as a fraud. In this situation, you constantly feel like no matter how much you are accomplishing. You feel like you are still not as good as those around you. For example, you may have gotten a job that you wanted, but now you are starting to feel like an imposter. You begin to doubt whether you are the right person for the job or if someone more qualified should have gotten the job. Ultimately, if you doubt yourself, then you will question your worth.
Tips to Overcome: Make a list and read it out loud. Write down a list of 10 things you are proud of or that make you feel confident. Doing this will ground you to shift your perspective to a more positive mindset. Saying your list out loud is another way of owning your accomplishments. Boost yourself up!
- Self-Sabotage: This leads you to downplay and undermine your goals and success. You know that you have an objective that you are passionate about, but you do things that negatively affect your path to those goals (both unconsciously and consciously). If you are constantly sabotaging your goals and stopping yourself from growing, you will make it easier to judge and doubt yourself.
Tips to Overcome: Before you can overcome self-sabotage, you need to be aware that you are doing it. Understanding why you keep repeating this behavior will help you realize what shift needs to happen. Create a plan for when you start to feel like self-sabotage is creeping in. Be prepared for these obstacles! Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Just because something feels different, doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Growth is uncomfortable! 
- Overthinking: There are many ways to overthink, but one of the most common can lead to indecisiveness. In this situation, you find yourself overthinking a decision because you fear that whatever you chose can lead to negative consequences or that it will simply be wrong. By doing this, you doubt your judgment and don’t feel confident enough to make decisions. It can affect your personal and professional life because you are not listening to yourself. You start to lose sight of what is happening at the moment because you take yourself to a situation where only wrong can happen.Tips to Overcome: Uncertainty will always be part of our lives but acknowledging it makes it easier to make your own decisions. When you are overthinking, take a moment to pause and reflect on the situation you are facing. It’s okay not to have the answers to everything! Overthinking can lead us to seek reassurance, but you should instead focus on being confident with your decisions and actions. By looking for the approval of others, you are undermining your confidence and logic. It’s okay to ask for opinions and support, but at the end of the day, you decide for yourself!
Self-doubt is a bad habit we all have. By implementing behaviors that shift our mindset, we can minimize the impact it has on our lives.
