If you’ve been following along in my blog series about overcoming self-doubt, you likely have received helpful information to get you started. Consider this a summary of sorts. This final blog post of the self-doubt series will focus on eight things you can do right now to take immediate action to overcome your feelings of self-doubt. If you really want to overcome self-doubt and start believing in yourself, it will take some work on your part. It will be worth it when you walk in a new level of confidence so you can focus on your goals for success!
Pinpoint Where Your Self-Doubt Began
It’s important to figure out where your self-doubt began. It most likely did not start overnight or come out of nowhere. Your feelings of self-doubt may be from childhood experiences or something you fell into due to experiences in your life. For example, if you are in a toxic relationship, you may need to get out of that relationship to move forward in your life. Once you understand where the self-doubt began, you can create a strategy to overcome it.
Assess Your Strengths And Weaknesses
Can you honestly say what your strengths and weaknesses truly are? This is a popular question for job interviews. However, you may need to dig deeper and be honest with yourself to overcome self-doubt. Take out a journal or a sheet of paper and write a list. On one side of the paper, list your strengths. On the other side of the paper, list your weaknesses. Then, take a highlighter pen and highlight the things you want to work on to improve your strengths and what you would like to do better in terms of your weaknesses. This will give you a good starting point on what to work on and goals to set for yourself.
Get A Physical Exam
You might be thinking that you don’t need to see a doctor because of some feelings of self-doubt you are struggling with. But those feelings may be a signal that something is off with your body. You may have undiagnosed anxiety or vitamin deficiencies that are causing anxiety. If your thyroid hormones are out of balance from a thyroid condition, it can also cause anxiety. Tell your doctor that you are experiencing anxiety and get a vitamin panel and thyroid levels checked in your bloodwork.
Eat Right And Exercise Regularly
Eating right and getting regular exercise can be one of your first successes to help you build your confidence back. You can look back and feel proud of yourself for making good choices during a time in your life when you didn’t feel very well. Eating well and exercising is a form of self-care that can help you destress and reduce anxiety. Try cutting back on your caffeine, which can also lead to a rapid heartbeat and racing thoughts. Avoid alcohol as that can act as a depressant in some people. You can start out small by drinking more water, eating more fruits and vegetables, and going for a walk every day. Sometimes making healthier choices can help regulate your blood sugar, balance hormones, and give you more energy and feelings of well-being. All of these things can give you a confidence boost and lift your spirits.
Start A Journal
Starting a gratitude journal can help you take your focus off of the negative thoughts of self-doubt and focus on the blessings you have in your life. It doesn’t have to be a gratitude journal. You can use your journal in any way that helps you to sort out your feelings. Write in it each morning when you wake up and each night before you go to bed. Writing can be therapeutic for some people. You can write scriptures, doodles, or other creative and relaxing journaling exercises. It’s better to use a paper journal rather than an electronic one for this exercise so that you don’t have to experience insomnia from the blue light technology from a digital journal.
Seek Help When You Need It
Sometimes it helps to talk things over with someone else, especially an expert. If you have a supportive friend willing to be an accountability partner for you, they may be a big help. You may want to talk to a Life Coach or a counselor who can help guide you and give tips on overcoming anxiety and self-doubt. They are also great for helping you if your self-doubt started from limiting beliefs in your childhood or trauma you may have experienced.
Make Small Goals For Yourself
When you are ready to make changes in your life to overcome your self-doubt, start with a few small goals. As you accomplish a few small goals, you will have immediate successes to help build your confidence. Your goals can be anything from this blog post, particularly eating healthy and getting more exercise.
Implement Everything You Learned
You can read countless books and learn tons of mindset tips to overcome your self-doubt and start believing in yourself again. But if you don’t act now and do the work, or in other words, implement what you’ve learned, you won’t see the success you desire. Remember, those small things can lead to big results. Choose one thing at a time to work on and master it, then move on to another. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward, no matter how fast or slow. Remember that you are capable of doing what you set out to accomplish, and you are worth it!