6 Reasons Why Self-doubt Is Not All That Terrible
If you have ever doubted yourself, you are not alone. The fact is that self-doubt is a natural part of life. It's how we learn to improve ourselves and grow as human beings. But it's also important to remember that self-doubt should not be used as an excuse for inaction.
"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.' We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it." - Kobe Bryant
Doubt will always be there, but it doesn't have to be negative. It can be a powerful force for good if we let it motivate us to do better work and reach higher levels of achievement in our lives. When you doubt yourself, you allow humility to stay at the forefront. This might sound counterintuitive, but it's true.
When you lack confidence in your abilities, you are likelier to be humble—which is good.
Humility is a virtue because it keeps us grounded and makes us more empathetic toward others. When we're humble, we tend to see ourselves as part of the larger whole rather than apart from it. We feel connected with others because we understand our commonalities; humility allows us to see that everyone has flaws and imperfections that make them human.
1. Humility:
The virtue of humility is far more attractive than someone arrogant who demands others to tiptoe around their fragile ego. Self-doubt is natural and beneficial since it keeps modesty at the forefront. Be proud of your accomplishments, but don't boast about them. Excessive bragging can turn people off. Since energy never lies, it is possible to "sense" the raging ego's view of others as subordinates. Feelings about situations, places, or people are known as "vibes" or "gut feelings." Consequently, there can be high levels of dissatisfaction and disengagement in the workplace and personal relationships.
2. To question self-talk:
How would you rate your inner talk? Is it positive or negative? What is beneath the surface and why? Fear of failure is a debilitating part of self-doubt that prevents taking action or risks; fear wins over the desired outcome. When life is not lived wholeheartedly, it becomes painful. My uncanny discovery is that many of my clients are paralyzed by not capitalizing on their skills, gifts and talents or by not trying new things.
In most cases, not being authentic to themselves leads to depression. It was a common practice for many to deny themselves of their talents and play the underdog without questioning their reasoning. The act of asking questions about self-doubt can lead to new self-talk, which changes the trajectory of our lives.
3. To face your fears:
It is often too scary for many people to take a risk on something they may fail at. My clients who did not explore their capabilities regret not trying. However, they experience profound liberation when they overcome their fears. Their doubts are now long behind them as they engage with the possibilities of success. What once frightened them has now become an exciting source of inspiration.
4. Redefining the notion of failure:
Let's be honest; if ventures fail, gossip would be an additional insult to a painful injury, which unfortunately does occur. One thing we do in my sessions is to redefine failure; not trying is the ultimate failure. If you don't get the expected results from your plans, readjust your sails and try again. Only through learning from different angles can you see what worked and didn't, and then you can move forward.
5. Uncertainty can spark creativity:
Taking risks and embracing failure is critical to unlocking creativity in business, artistry and life. Risks are the best way to push boundaries and discover new ideas. Mistakes often lead to innovative ideas, a crucial part of the creative process. Mistakes can help us learn and grow and open new avenues of exploration. However, society teaches practicality to scream louder than creativity's wisdom. Uncertainty is the willingness to enter forbidden imaginations and surrender to the unknown; this is where the magic happens!
6. Self-doubt is about taking personal responsibility:
Plain and simple, which character will you be, the victim or the victor? Both require energy. It's up to you to get where you most desire, so why not take responsibility for it? Doubts are usual, but clinging to them is not healthy. As a result of internal work, happiness comes on the other side! The growth process gives you new pathways to success, and you learn how to build positive associations to overcome doubts in an empowering manner.
Humility and the importance of success
Doubts can be great teachers, but they can also be terrible ones. The problem with doubt is that it comes from a place of fear, and fear can be paralyzing. When you let doubt control your actions, it makes you feel like you're failing before you even start to try. But what if I told you that humility is the key to conquering doubt?
Humility is the ability to recognize your limitations and accept them without judgment or shame.
It's knowing that you don't have all the answers—and that's okay! Humility allows us to learn from our mistakes without beating ourselves up or feeling like failures for not knowing everything. Humility helps us take risks without worrying about being judged for failure because there isn't any failure in humility: there's only learning. And this isn't just my opinion!
Studies show that humble people succeed more than those who aren't humble because they are open-minded and accepting of others—including their shortcomings and those of others around them. This means that humility leads to an environment where everyone feels comfortable taking risks because empathy is at the forefront for themselves and others.
“If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone unturned to make it a reality.” - Dr. Roopleen.
