5 Tips to Deal With the Self-Doubt

It's normal to experience self-doubt every once in a while. Life has its ups and downs and you can't expect to be at your best at all times. Things don't always work out the way you want which often deprives you of your motivation.

When you consistently acknowledge failures on different occasions, you start doubting your own capabilities and think that no good would come to you. This is self-doubt and it prohibits you from channeling your maximum efficiency.

Self-doubt is a state of mind that leaves you with dwindling focus. It has a severe effect on your productivity and thus impedes your growth if left unchecked. Fortunately, there are many ways you can get your mojo back.

If you've been struggling with self-doubt, here are the 5 tips that can help you overcome it.

So, without further ado.

Let's get started.

1. Recall Your Achievements

Self-doubt hits you hard when things are not going your way. It feels as if you're bound to acknowledge failure no matter how hard you try or what you do.

When that happens, negative thoughts find their way into your mind and deprive you of whatever motivation you have to keep going.

At this moment, you need to recall your past achievements and the road so far. Things haven't always been bad, so try to remember the time when things worked out in your favor.

Think about the time when you achieved your goals despite all odds as it will motivate you to keep pushing forward.

We all have achievements in our lives. So, think back and cherish the good old days. No matter how big or small your achievements were, remember them as they'd give you a reason to believe in yourself again.

2. Learn to Let Go

Try not to think excessively about your failures. Negative thinking breeds self-doubt. So, it's best that you don't dwell on the past. This may sound easier said than done. But, if you try, you will find the reason to push forward and keep the hustle going.

Whether it was an opportunity that you missed or something that didn't go as planned. Let it go and focus on what's ahead of you. You can't go back to the past or change it. So, don't get tunnel-visioned by things you couldn't achieve.

Thinking about what could have been would not change a thing. So, it's best that you start exploring new opportunities that are up for grabs.

3. Compete With Yourself

Our definition of success is often determined by what we achieved in comparison to others. There's nothing wrong with wanting to stand out from the crowd and be the best there is at what you do. But, assessing your success by using someone else's as a measuring tool isn't a viable approach.

Success demands steady efforts and it's less likely for you to make it big overnight. So, start celebrating the small victories till you achieve the big ones.

Competing with yourself is far better than competing with others. So, it's best that you focus on your year-on-year growth than comparing your success with others. The growth dynamics in their industry may vary from the one that you represent, so work at your own pace.

4. Keep Good Company

When things don't go in your favor, you need all the support that you can get. And for that, it's best that you resort to friends, family, and loved ones.

But, know this. Your social circle can either serve as a catalyst that boosts your motivation or a constant reminder of your failures. Therefore, you should choose your company right and stay away from the toxic people in your life.

You don't need people who remind you of your failures but the ones who help you recall your capabilities and channel your true potential. A few kind words from your friends or family are all you need to stay resilient and keep checking tasks off your to-do list.

5. Seek Validation from Within

We all crave validation. That's probably the reason why appreciation from your boss makes your day at work. But, when you work remotely or run a startup, the likelihood of getting your efforts validated by others drastically decreases.

Along with the perks, that's one of the downsides of remote work culture. So, give yourself a pat on the back when you've achieved a milestone. And most importantly, reassure yourself that everything would be alright when you've failed.

True validation comes from within. So, be your own beacon that leads to success despite unending failures.

It's a Wrap

There you have it. The 5 tips that help you deal with self-doubt. We are generally susceptible to negative thoughts. We take our victories for granted but our failures deeply affect our motivation.

Self-doubt makes you unappreciative of your own efforts. And in some cases, leads to severely low self-esteem. You consistently seek reassurance from others but think of yourself as unworthy of the praise when received.

That's what self-doubt does to you. You end up feeling as if you were never good enough. If you're feeling or ever felt like this before, try out the recommendations and see if they work out for you.

Overcoming self-doubt may seem difficult but it's not impossible. Many have overcome the feeling of self-doubt and you can too.