Overcoming Self Doubt To Become More Confident Than Ever

Deep down I know I'm good enough just as I am. I know I was created exactly the way I am on purpose, flaws and all. I know I have the power to achieve amazing things in my life while also positively impacting the lives of others. I know that even though I've made mistakes (lots and lots of mistakes), I still deserve happiness. Although I know all of this, I oftentimes don't feel like it's true.

I still hear that negative little voice in my head more often than I'd like to admit. The voice that says things like, "You don't know what you're doing. You don't have the ability to accomplish that. You'll probably just fail, so why bother trying? You're not pretty enough, smart enough, good enough for that. What will people think? They'll laugh at you. Sure others have accomplished those things, but you're not like them. They have more money, more support, more talent, more ambition than you do. You've made too many mistakes to make anything of your life." 

That voice has been with me the majority of my life. It likes to give it's pessimistic opinion on everything from what I wear to whether or not I should pursue a certain dream or goal for myself. I'm sure you know what this is like, because you probably have your very own version of this voice. Maybe not as bad as mine or maybe worse. But I think we all experience some form of self doubt at some point in our lives. Here's the good news:

First of all, this voice is trying to help, even though it may not seem that way. It's there for a reason. It keeps our egos in check. It forces us to second guess ourselves, and sometimes that leads to the realization that we're not always right. If we don't allow it to completely run our lives it can be a valuable tool for self awareness.

Secondly, and most important, once you are aware of your inner critic, it's easier than you may think to gain control of it. With a little patience and consistency, you can turn things around so that the voice you hear also offers kind and loving guidance that is true to who you really are.

So, here are the things I'm doing to conquer my self doubt and become the most confident person I know. I hope they inspire you to conquer your own self doubt and go after all those things you wish you had the courage to pursue.

• I'm challenging myself to do things that scare me. Van Gogh once said, "If you hear a voice within you say 'You cannot paint,' then by all means paint and that voice will be silent." The more we push ourselves to try new things, the more we realize just how capable we really are. And hey, even if you do try something and suck at it, at least you had the courage to try. And that builds confidence just as much as finding out you're really good at something.
• I'm changing my inner dialogue from "What will they think?" to "What do I think?" Instead of wasting time wondering if others will approve of my decisions, I ask myself if it's true to who I am. Does it bring me joy? Is it something I truly want? Or am I doing it to please others? The truth is you're never going to get everyone to approve of you or your decisions, but you can always make sure you do.
• When self doubt starts to set in, I challenge it with the truth. Fear is a liar. It will make you believe you don't measure up if you allow it to. When I start to get caught up in the lies of my self doubt I simply tell myself, "that's not true." The truth is I am worthy, I am good enough, I am loved more than I can even imagine and I do deserve happiness. Period.
• I've made a commitment to stop comparing myself to others. We each have our own unique journey in life. We may have similarities, and that's great because it enables us to make connections and build friendships. But every single one of us has our own road to travel, filled with ups and downs. Constantly comparing your life to those around you means you're not making decisions that are true to who you are. You're making them based on someone else's life choices. The more I make choices that are right for me and my life, the more confidence I have in my ability to choose the right path.
• And lastly, I'm doing all of these things in the kindest, most patient way possible. Beating myself up for reverting back to my old self doubting ways would be pretty counterproductive to say the least. So, when it does happen I'm kind and patient with myself. I remind myself that it's just as much about the journey as it is about arriving at the destination. And I am loving my journey from self doubt to absolute confidence so far.

Thanks so much for reading! Please feel free to share, and tell me about your journey to confidence in the comments section below.