Overcoming Self-Doubt: Strategies I Used
Acknowledge Your Feelings
For me, the hardest part of overcoming the struggles I had with self-doubt was the simple fact of acknowledging and accepting my feelings. For the longest time, my thought was, if I just fight it, it will go away… and boy was I wrong. The more I fought my feelings and acted as if they weren’t real, the more I began to doubt myself. It wasn’t until I allowed myself to truly feel and recognize these emotions that I started to understand them better. This acknowledgment was the first step towards addressing and overcoming self-doubt, enabling me to start building genuine confidence in my abilities.
Admitting my feelings of self-doubt felt like I was conceding to a weakness, something that I believed would make me seem less competent in my professional life. However, I soon realized that pretending these feelings didn’t exist only gave them more power over me. By acknowledging my self-doubt, I took control of the narrative. Instead of letting these negative feelings define me, I began to see them as a part of who I am and something that I could work through.
Once I accepted what I was feeling, I could analyze it more objectively. I started asking myself questions like, “Why do I feel this way?” and “What evidence do I have that contradicts or supports these doubts?” This introspection helped me pinpoint the root causes of my self-doubt, whether it was fear of failure, perfectionism, or comparison to others. Understanding these underlying factors made it easier to address them directly.
Reframe Your Thoughts:
Overtime I began to realize these challenges I had been facing were not something completely out of the norm. They are expected. And let’s be honest, as much as they suck, to go through life without any obstacles would be pretty boring. So, once I accepted the fact that there was no possible way I could prevent them, I began looking at them as opportunities. Now, is calling challenges “opportunities” somewhat cliche? Definitely. But is it effective? Absolutely.
When I started viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, my entire perspective shifted. Instead of seeing them as roadblocks that hindered my progress, I saw them as chances to learn, adapt, and improve. This change in mindset didn’t happen overnight either, but as I consciously made an effort to reframe my thoughts, I noticed a significant difference in how I approached difficult situations.
For instance, when I encounter a tough project or task at work, instead of becoming overwhelmed with doubt in my abilities, I remind myself that this is an opportunity to learn and enhance my skills. By viewing these challenges as chances for growth, it helps me use my initial anxiety as motivation. Furthermore, I recognize that overcoming this task now will make future encounters with similar tasks much easier. This proactive mindset not only helps me tackle the current challenge but also equips me with the knowledge and experience to handle similar situations with greater ease and assurance in the future.
Celebrate Your Achievements
A win is a win, no matter how big or small it might seem, and I’ve learned that recognizing these achievements is crucial for building and maintaining confidence. Oftentimes I found myself so focused on chasing larger goals that I overlooked the small victories along the way. I came to realize, these small wins are essential because they serve as milestones that mark our progress and remind us of our capabilities. Each tiny success, whether it’s mastering a new skill, receiving positive feedback, or simply completing a challenging task, deserves to be celebrated. Celebrating these moments not only reinforces a positive mindset but also boosts our morale, making it easier to tackle larger challenges with renewed confidence and enthusiasm. Now, when I acknowledge these small achievements, I feel a sense of accomplishment that seems to keep the momentum going.
Although this strategy can be applied to any profession or career path, it was certainly most effective for me during my days as an Account Executive. If you have worked in a similar role, you will undoubtedly know the mental toll that working in sales can take on you. Of course, it was rewarding but constantly chasing quota, and KPI’s felt like a never ending battle that I could barely win. So, overtime every sale I made was just as much of a win as the biggest sale I ever made. I began to take the monetary value of it and focused on the achievement itself. Yeah, the money was great, but the small change in mindset was what helped me through the toughest of days.
By celebrating these small wins, I was able to sustain my momentum and build a strong foundation of confidence. This approach allowed me to tackle larger sales goals with renewed energy and enthusiasm. It helped my work experience, making each day feel like a step forward rather than an exhausting grind. Embracing this mindset helped me navigate the challenges of a demanding sales environment and achieve better numbers because of it.
Seek Support and Mentorship:
Mentorship is something I could, and most likely will, write an entire post on. Seeking support and mentorship was crucial in overcoming self-doubt and helped me build the foundations for professional confidence. Mentors and supportive colleagues have helped provide me invaluable guidance, encouragement, and perspective, helping me navigate challenges and recognize my strengths. They can offer constructive feedback, share their own experiences, and provide a safe space for us to express our concerns and uncertainties.
I vividly remember a time when seeking support from a mentor significantly impacted my confidence and overall growth. Early in my career, I was struggling to close a major sale that my quota hinged on. My boss, who I deeply respected and still do, noticed my struggles and offered to guide me through the sale. Through regular check-ins and open conversations, my boss provided practical advice on sales strategies, shared personal stories of overcoming similar challenges, and consistently reinforced my capabilities. This relationship not only helped me successfully close the sale but also instilled a lasting confidence in my abilities. Having someone believe in me when I doubted myself was pivotal, showing me the profound impact that mentorship and support can have on someone.