It is common to pretend that successful people never have doubts, that they are decisive, that they never have regrets and that they always know what to do. That couldn’t be more false. The thing is, everyone, even the best leaders, doubt themselves. While they achieve success they are almost always haunted by indecision.
Doubt is a very human response to all the challenges life throws at you, but it shouldn’t stop you from overcoming obstacles and reaching your goals. Here are 12 valuable tips for overcoming doubt and directing your energy toward something more productive. In no time, you’ll be like all the entrepreneurs you’ve always admired.
You are not alone. First, recognize that everyone has doubts. It’s lonely to think you’re the only one suffering from a lack of confidence. You’ll sabotage your success if you feel like an outsider.
Stop worrying about what others think. When you spend your time and energy trying to analyze other people’s perception of you, you’ll get trapped. There will always be someone who seems to be doing better. Don’t compare yourself to the accomplishments and possessions of others.
Set immediate goals. In addition to adopting ambitious goals, remember to set short-term ones. It’s easy to hesitate when your big goals aren’t met immediately. By achieving small goals, you can celebrate small victories.
Remember your last success. When uncertainty hits, instead of dwelling on negative things, reflect on what went well and recent accomplishments. Each triumph is another step toward reaching your goals.
Surround yourself with the right people. No person is an island, as the saying goes, and that’s true for your business as well. Keep the people who motivate you close and seek their feedback regularly. Distance yourself from individuals who are always pessimistic about you and your business.
Remember the rest of the world. It can be difficult to separate yourself from bad experiences. You may do everything exactly right and yet sometimes things won’t go right. Remember that when you doubt your abilities. It’s important to take a step back and remember that you are not the center of the universe, other people have goals and accomplishments, problems and interpretations.
Don’t depend on your identity for immediate success. Many people develop an idealistic image of themselves. When they fail to live up to that image, doubt sets in. Despite your best efforts and intentions, mistakes happen and there is no point in fighting them. Instead, develop better habits.
Forgive yourself. One way to waste time is when you choose to be miserable. Give yourself permission to move on.
Be decisive, but don’t be afraid to change your mind. When it comes time to make a decision, don’t expend too much energy. In many cases, your instinct is probably right, so make up your mind and move on. Don’t be afraid to change course if, in the end, you realize it wasn’t the best decision.
Distract yourself. It’s very easy to get filled with negative thoughts, and if they don’t go away, they can haunt you all your life. Break the cycle immediately. Some ways to get out of this self-destructive loop include taking a walk, changing projects or exercising. Experiment and find a technique that works to eliminate pessimism before it consumes you.
Face your fears. Finally, don’t let fear or doubt dictate how you conduct your personal life or business. Regularly evaluate the worst that could happen as well as the risk-reward ratio.
People who are afraid of failure never grow personally or professionally. The harder you try, the more you will realize what you are capable of. Eventually, you may even avoid the negative effects of self-doubt and use them to challenge your limitations and achieve greatness.
