Since the beginning of human history, we have always looked up at the stars and wondered what our place in the universe was, and if there was some force or being who understood our pain and could save us from the burdens of life.
It is this faith that sustains billions of people around the world, as they utilize the frameworks of religions and philosophies to make sense of this complicated life and achieve their ideals of success, peace, love, and more. Our personal and cultural experiences mix together to create our belief systems and they form the lens through which we view the world, for better and for worse.
In addition to our worldview, these experiences and beliefs help us form our personal identity and self-image, which have a monumental impact on the trajectory of our lives.
In his book "Rich Dad Poor Dad", Robert Kiyosaki encompassed the power of self-doubt in one simple quote:
“We all have tremendous potential, and we all are blessed with gifts. Yet the one thing that holds all of us back is some degree of self-doubt.” – Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad Poor Dad
Faith is power, and if you have an unbreakable belief that you will be successful, it dramatically increases the likelihood that you will achieve your goals. By the same token, if you believe that you are unworthy of success and that you are doomed to fail, you will be blinded by fear and self-doubt. You will never push forward through intense adversity and capitalize on the opportunities before you.
So where does self-doubt come from in the first place? These are the two most likely sources:
1. You internalized the negativity and destructive language of those around you.
At some point in your life, someone told you that you were not good enough, that you were a failure who would never amount to anything. They reminded you of your shortcomings and mistakes at every opportunity, holding a magnifying glass over your life to expose every part of yourself that you don't like. Eventually, you began to accept their words as the truth, and allowed their destructive narrative to destroy your self-esteem, and dominate your life's story,
Or...
2. You are responsible for your self-doubt.
You are hypercritical of everything you do. You measure your success against the achievements of others and are never satisfied with your own accomplishments, even if your friends and family celebrate you. Even though you possess all of the potential in the world, you are too afraid to take risks and let opportunities pass you by because you will never be as talented, popular, or successful as the people you envy or admire.
The journey of overcoming doubt will look different for everyone, and we can't possibly offer an exhaustive list of habits that will completely eliminate doubt from your life. However, we do believe these 3 steps are essential for anyone trying to overcome their negative self-image and live a bold and triumphant life!
1. Take inventory of the doubts that exist in your heart.
We have identified two potential sources of doubt, but it's up to you to identify the specific insecurities that you have about yourself. Do you think you're not tall enough to make the basketball team, not smart enough to become a lawyer, or too broken to love your children, partner, or yourself? Whatever they may be, remind yourself as often as possible that these limitations do not define you! You could write them down and burn the sheet of paper, flush it down the toilet, or any other method to signify the destruction of your insecurities.
2. Write down your goals, and track your progress regularly.
Write down your vision for each area of your life: how do you want your personal and romantic relationships to develop, what is your dream job and what does it take to get there, what diet and exercise plan will best fit your schedule, etc. Documenting your aspirations will help you organize your thoughts and visualize your path to success with less stress and more confidence.
Don't forget to monitor your progress to each goal, and make adjustments whenever life throws you a curveball!
3. Find or build a community to support you along the way.
Last but not least, remember that you don't have to do it on your own. Reach out to friends and family that you trust and ask them to hold you accountable during your journey of defeating self-doubt. Consider joining groups on social media that focus on self-help and empowerment, and keep your eye on events in your community or online that will give you valuable information and experiences as well.
Of course, self-doubt is not the only barrier to success, but you will never jump over the other hurdles on the road to success if the doubt in your heart stops you from taking the first steps. Be encouraged, stay focused, and never give up!