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Imagine how often you've said "RIP" to all those opportunities that knocked on your door, but found yourself too hesitant to open it, thinking, "I'm not capable of it!"

The interesting fact is that you're not alone!

Research shows that 85% of people experience self-doubt or lack trust in their abilities and talents.

A person cutting out the letter 't' from the word 'Can't'. Image created by the author in Canva

My Experience with Self-Doubt

A confident person otherwise, my biggest fear was speaking in front of a camera.

I feared I would mess up everything and my words would fumble. Once, after much persuasion from my friend, I agreed to record a short podcast.

To my surprise, it wasn't the catastrophe I'd expected. I spoke clearly and confidently. My audience loved it!

At that moment, I realized that our doubts are often just shadows of our fear.

Did you know?

J K Rowling struggled with self-doubt before she became a famous author. From being an unemployed, single mother who barely managed to put food on the table, she went on to become one of the best-selling authors of all time. Read her inspiring story about how she rose to success and how you can also overcome self-doubt.

How to Recognize Self-Doubt

When opportunity knocks:

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A. Do you often think:

  • "I don't deserve it."

  • "I do not have knowledge or experience."

  • "What if I fail?"

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B. Or do you look at it with:

  • confidence

  • trust, feeling you can do it

  • a belief that you have what it takes

If your answer matches any of the listed bullets in A, you may struggle with self-doubt.

Quiz

Your friend John has got an opportunity to represent his university at a public event where many people from across the world are coming. If he is struggling with self-doubt, how might he think? Select all that apply:

You Can Overcome Self-Doubt!

You must take only that first, little step to overcome your fears and feel confident.

An illustrated image of a human climbing up the stairs.

To Overcome Self-doubt

  • Challenge negative thoughts

  • Celebrate small wins

  • Surround yourself with supportive people

  • Practice self-compassion

What I Did

I decided not to be too harsh on myself even if I wasn't able to do it well. At least I was trying.

Self-compassion definitely helps you take that first step!

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Did you know?

Talking to yourself in the third person can help overcome self-doubt. It's called distanced self-talk, and studies show that when you refer to yourself by name instead of "I" (e.g., "You've got this, [Your Name]!" instead of "I've got this."), it can create emotional distance.

This can help you think more clearly and positively about a situation. This simple trick boosts your confidence and reduces self-criticism!

How My Self-Doubt Changed to Self-Confidence

When I got the chance to record my first podcast, I gave it my best shot.

I practiced, made adjustments, and finally went live.

I got 500 views in a month and thought, "That's not bad! At least 500 people can recognize me now!"

A smiling cartoon cat. The text reads: 'Yay, you did it! You can chill now.'

Takeaways

  1. Practice the task at hand multiple times.

  2. Reflect on how you're doing it.

  3. Improve it.

  4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until you feel confident.

Check this Byte on how to boost confidence through affirmations to understand how positive self-talk can help you feel more confident.

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Challenge Negative Thoughts

An image illustrating negative thoughts that cripple the mind while lying down at night.

Don't let negative thoughts about yourself bring you down.

"I'm not good at this."

"I'm not pretty."

"I can never do it."

Challenge all such thoughts and ask yourself:

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  • Is there any evidence to back this up?

  • What's making me think like this?

  • What's the worst that could happen?

Whenever I'm hit with a negative thought, I ask myself, "What's the worst that could happen?"

It helps me get ready for any bad outcomes and gives me the confidence to tackle the task without worrying about messing up.

Celebrate Small Wins

Every win, big or small, gets you closer to success.

Celebrate! Give yourself a pat on the back, write it down somewhere, or do something special to make yourself happy and proud of your accomplishment — no matter how small.

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Quiz

After successfully completing a challenging task, what can help you feel motivated to keep going? Select all that apply:

Did you know?

Acknowledging small victories releases happy hormones, boosts your mood, and keeps you motivated for bigger success.

Surround Yourself With Supportive People

A hand sculpture holding up a large tree limb.

Build a network of people who uplift and encourage you.

With supportive people:

  • You stay focused on your goals.

  • You don't feel isolated or stressed.

  • You get constructive feedback on your progress.

Without supportive people:

  • You may find it hard to stay focused.

  • You often doubt if you are doing it right.

  • You feel there's no one to celebrate your wins.

Take Action

Although a little self-doubt is normal and natural, don't let it hamper your ability to progress in life.

Start now and take action to turn self-doubt into self-confidence.

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License:

This Byte has been authored by

RP

Romana Parveen

Learning Experience Designer

MBA

English

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