An Appreciation for Self-Doubt

For a long time, I looked at self-doubt as an ugly monster that popped out of the shadows to scare me from the path I was on. It would appear when I was moving at a brisk pace with my head down, getting things done, and BAM…it would turn me into a fainting goat.

Self-doubt creeps in more than I care to admit. I've learned to reduce the amount of time it stays around with:

• My “why” statement posted in a few different places.

• A monthly review of my plan and adjustments made for clarity and accuracy.

• A list of people to hold me accountable or to lean on for support.

While these reminders and actions served me well, I’m excited to have a new tool in my toolbox.

A few days after Thanksgiving, I woke up convinced that my plan wasn’t going to work and I might as well start looking for a new job. I acknowledged that it was self-doubt and that it was responsible for the funk I was in. Oddly, I was guided not to be upset by it. I felt my mind face it instead of fighting it.

I opened my journal to write about the negativity and how it opened the door for self-doubt to enter. The words that came next were reminders of how the big lows (the times when self-doubt knocked me down in the past) were typically followed by something good. I made a list of those times and added it to the tools I noted above.

I gave myself permission to enjoy some downtime that day, and wouldn’t you know it, the next morning I was gifted a clear mind and lots of new ideas.

I no longer refer to my self-doubt as an ugly monster. That doesn’t make us friends, though. I believe it’s with me for a reason and has lessons to share. The next time it appears, I’ll be ready!

Do you need some techniques for managing your self-doubt? Schedule a Discovery Call on my Contact page.

This blog was written by Tracy with absolutely no use of AI.