A Simple Technique That Will Help You Get Rid of Self-Doubt

Research shows that talking to yourself has a huge impact on your self-confidence. Just replace a few words…

"I'm too busy reading all the messages I received."

"I'm sorry, but I can't remember the name."

"I don't know how to make impactful presentations."

Have you ever heard a voice in your head say such a thing? Or did you just say it out loud? Probably yes, you've been advised to simply accept what you can't do and keep going.

At the dawn of my career, I noticed that I am attracted only by projects whose implementation can put me in a good light, and not by those that take me out of my comfort zone and lead the company's progress. The voice in my head kept repeating, "You can't afford to take on this project. Will this be your failure? You can't go without a job. It's not worth the risk. "

My fear of failure (or simply the fear of being a loser) forced me to be careful and modest. But the results of studies of the human brain have shown that this is not always the most effective strategy and in any case, there is something you can change.

Expectations and reality

See, your brain gets what it hopes for. Participants in a 2008 study by Stanford scientists were asked to test a new codeine-like painkiller. In the waiting room, the subjects were surrounded by many pamphlets describing the medicine. Some took the drug for $ 2.5, while others offered an alternative for just 10 cents.

It was a placebo. Do you think that people appreciated the experimental drug as much, testing its analgesic effect after a series of weak electric discharges? Of course not. Those who took the expensive pills said that they felt more relieved than those who chose the cheaper option.

How you perceive life depends on your expectations. The human brain is in an eternal search for information that confirms its beliefs. If you constantly say that you are too busy reading all the e-mails you receive, your brain will do its best so that you don't have enough time for that. He will do anything to block you in his limiting faith.

Frequency wins

It would be nice to say something positive once and therefore change your whole life immediately. Unfortunately, this works differently.

Remember how often you have said out loud or to yourself that "you are not good enough" in trying to fix it. Probably hundreds or even thousands of times. Repairing the damage caused by your insecurity and introducing a new truth into the equation certainly requires self-discipline. Don't worry, it certainly won't be superfluous.

The results of a 1977 study published in the Journal of Verbal Learning and Behavior introduced the concept of the effect of illusory truth that the number of times you hear something directly affects the likelihood that you will believe.

So, a series of statements were made before the participants in the experiment (some of them were true and some were not), and after a week or two, they remembered them. Subjects noted the known statements as true and new ones as erroneous.

To "educate" your brain, you should repeat the new truth to yourself in sufficient numbers. That's why mantras are so effective.

How important is the choice of words?

You may be wondering if the choice of words is really that important, or can you simply choose any of the positive statements you already know? In short, yes, it is important.

For example, he said, "He is not guilty." A 2004 study published in the Journal of Research in Experimental Social Psychology showed that simply replacing words has a significant impact on appearance: innocent or guilty. The combination of the words "He" and "guilty" suggests the presence of guilt, and the particle "no" before the last is simply ignored by the brain.

Replacing "I can't make good presentations" with "I can make good presentations" will have the same effect as "I'm a master of presentation" and "I make presentations that people like."

You can get rid of harmful communication with yourself and overcome insecurity. If you don't believe me, try to tell yourself and convince your subconscious that this is true. You will be amazed at what you are capable of.