Kick Self-Doubt to The Curb with These 7 Top Tips

Self-doubt is a crippling, debilitating feeling, and we all know it at some point in life. Do you lack confidence? Do you fear failure? Is the comfort zone holding you back? This can all be down your own self-doubt and lack of self-belief. So it’s time to kick self-doubt to the curb! 

What is Self-Doubt?

Self-doubt is defined as

‘a lack of faith in oneself: a feeling of doubt or uncertainty about one’s abilities, actions, etc.’ (Merriam-webster dictionary, online)

It seems simple when you look at the definition, but the feeling of self doubt can be heavy and difficult to overcome. What’s worse is that it can be caused by so many things from past experiences, future possibilities and present struggle. 

Finding the origin of your self doub can be a huge game changer. Why do you lack confidence and doubt your abilities? When you discover the cause, it makes the feeling a little more realistic and understandable. Additionally, it can highlight how much we exaggerate in our minds. 

Self-doubt magnifies our fear of failure, our lack of confidence and minimal self-worth. This is why it is time to overcome your self-doubt, start believing in yourself and your skills and know that you are worthy and talented to succeed.

7 Top Tips to Overcome Self-Doubt

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Here are some top tips to start overcoming your self-doubt and kick it to the curb!

1. The Comparison Cycle

A huge element of self-doubt is the way we compare ourselves to others. There is no life path the same for everyone, just because your friends seem more ‘ahead’ than you does not mean you are behind. These thoughts just are not true. Your self-doubt should not be caused because you compare yourself to others.

You should live on your own timeline, decide your life for yourself and not how someone tells you or makes you feel like you should. Live on your terms and stop doubting your path and decisions, it is all the process of life. Click To Tweet

2. Stop Worrying What People Think

Self-doubt often comes from our perception of others’ thoughts of us. We are scared to take a step forward and doubt that we can succeed because we think our peers will judge us, think badly of us or be disappointed.

This is not the case. People are usually worrying too much about what you think of them. It will be a constant struggle to stop thinking in this way but being aware of the doubt it causes is a step towards overcoming your self-doubt.

Therefore, stop worrying about what other people think about you, you should just be happy and loving of yourself. Put yourself first and make your decisions with you in mind, no one else.

3. Say It Out Loud

Talk to someone or say it to yourself: 

• What do you doubt about yourself?
• How does it make it feel?
• What does it stop you from doing?
• Where does your doubt come from?

When you say it out loud, your self-doubt seems all the more ridiculous and unrealistic. Laugh at yourself if you want to, go a little crazy and get excited that you can overcome your self-doubt.

Someone else can also give you a new perspective of your fears and doubts and totally turn it around. Encouragement, advice, and belief from someone close to you can really boost your morale, improve your confidence and fill you with positive energy to kick your self-doubt to the curb.

4. Journalling

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Do you own a journal? You should and it should be your little companion. In the same way that saying it out loud, writing down your fears and doubts can really change your perspective and thoughts completely. 

Use  your journal in the mornings to write about what you are grateful for. Gratitude is a huge element to internal happiness and motivation as you can really appreciate the beautiful things around you and inside you. This includes positive affirmations that reinforce positive thoughts and opinions of yourself, trigger self-belief and boost your inner confidence.

Also, use your journal for evening reflection of the day. What were the events of the day, good and bad? How did you feel and think? What were your reactions? This journalling summarises your day and gives you an opportunity to reflect, notice the small things and really evaluate your actions and emotions.  

This is key to overcome your self-doubt as you can notice more things about yourself and why you doubt yourself. Reprogram your brain to start believing in yourself and stop doubting your abilities to achieve and succeed in anything you put your mind to.

5. Failure is not a Failure

Often self-doubt can be caused by a fear of failure, a fear that we are not able to succeed and completely lack confidence in yourself. Past failures can cause you to doubt yourself and your abilities because you failed.

However, change your perspective on failure really is, a learning opportunity and progress. You are not going to get everything right every time and this is because we are constantly learning and growing in life and in ourselves. So do not focus on the negative side of failure and let it weigh you down, failure is a learning curve and opportunity to move on and progress in other ways.

6. Learn Continuously

Self doubt is caused because you doubt your skills, knowledge, and ability. Therefore, invest in yourself and your learning in where you have doubts. Expand and grow in yourself to improve your confidence and kick your self-doubt to the curb.

Learning also means you need to accept challenges and opportunities to learn and test yourself. So overcoming and putting your self-doubt to side and accept those challenges. When you accept and succeed, and even if you fail, you are learning and growing and improving. This is a challenge but will essential in your battle to overcome self-doubt.

7. Be Kind to Yourself

This is all about loving yourself and not beating yourself up. We all have doubts, we all have struggles and failures, it is normal. So do not punish yourself for anything. Know that you are on a journey, just like everyone else, and you are learning about yourself and who you want to be. 

If you don’t love yourself, your confidence will be low, self-belief will be no existent and your self-doubt sky high. So change this now! You are a beautiful, talented, amazing person and you need to appreciate you and know you are enough, you are worthy and you can succeed.

Where is your Self-Doubt now?

Ultimately, it is within you to use your inner power to overcome your self-doubt and be a whole new you. use these tips and ideas to gather resources and improve your mentality towards life and the challenges you face. Self doubt is only created by our perception and perspective of ourselves so change this right now.

Start living how you want to live and do not let any fear or self-doubt rule your life or determine your actions. 

Author Bio
Brittany is the mind behind and the creator of The Boldly Blog. Her goal is to inspire young women to start their personal development journey for their own self-development and self-discovery. Most importantly, she wants everyone to feel free to invest in themselves and their goals and be their true selves, unapologetically.