5 Steps to Help Conquer Self-Doubt

At some point in life we all suffer from self-doubt. Even the most confident have moments when they question their ability, it’s just not everyone is prepared to show it. And it’s this lack of visibility which at times can make you think you're alone with your fears of personal competency or what you feel is a lack of them but, as R.T. Bennett said, “Don’t let others tell you what you can’t do. Don't let the limitations of others limit your vision. If you can remove your self-doubt and believe in yourself, you can achieve what you never thought possible.”

Not that we always feel this. The rhythms of life and good practice will lead to growing confidence which leads to better performance. But self-doubt doesn't live amongst the familiar but rather the new. It's in the area of growth where the gremlins of self-doubt do their work.

It appears to me those who struggle least with self-doubt are those who have little to doubt over. The person who has mastered a 5k run has little to doubt himself until he tries to conquer a 10k run. That's where self-doubt kicks in. It bites harshest when we commit to improvement- when we decide to step out of the status quo, when we attempt something new, or bolder or bigger than before. So, if you are in a season of self-doubt - take heart for it probably means you are stretching yourself in a new area or taking on a fresh challenge. 
So here are my five steps to conquering self-doubt

1. Allow your next decision to be built off the back of your last achievement. Self-doubt must listen to past success and helps to build confidence for your next move. Success is built layer upon layer - attend to what you need to do now and use your past achievements to create confidence for your next challenge. You can do this!
2. Self-doubt only speaks half-truth. Self-doubt is playing to your fears; what people have negatively said to you and how you have in turn viewed yourself in light of their criticism. Don't take advice from a punter - only a practitioner. 
3. Past failure is the fuel of self-doubt - it speaks to you of what you cannot do. Learn to make each life experience a learning experience. Each failure is then a lesson in how something won't work which is a step closer to discovering what will. 
4. Remember - there's a new devil for every level. Self-doubt only has an authentic voice if you are playing the game as a Formula Three driver when you've been offered a seat in the Formula One team. Raise your game and silence the doubt. Up skill; find a mentor; let people coach you. Sometimes you need to be coached through your fears so you can see the other side of them - once you can see the other side you can start to live there mentally - and thinking you can is a major step to achieving your goal.
5. Anticipate it. Self-doubt will come with a new challenge so prepare for it - it's all part of growing. If you can prepare for it then you can work through it much sooner which will allow you to travel quicker to your next goal. Don't allow self-doubt to get hold of you. If you do that is when you lose energy and energy is the first principle of momentum and momentum is the engine of change

​As Vincent van Gogh wrote, “If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” And silencing the voice is the first step to overcoming self-doubt.

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