Turning Self-Doubt Into Self-Confidence

“Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself. Believe in yourself, your abilities and your own potential. Never let self-doubt hold you captive. You are worthy of all that you dream of and hope for.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Starting something new can seem daunting. It’s natural to experience some self-doubt at the beginning. Many of us have been told, in one way or another, that we’re “not enough.” That thought can rear its ugly head when we want to pursue our purpose and move in the direction of our dreams.

The good news is you can turn self-doubt into self-confidence. If you have a desire, you have the ability to make it happen.

Here are 7 tips to help you build your self-confidence:

1. Practice Self-Compassion:

Become aware of your self-talk. Is it negative or supportive? If your inner critic is at work, stop and turn that thought around to something that is kind. Would you speak to a dear friend or a child the way you speak to yourself? Self-compassion involves recognizing that we all make mistakes. That’s what being human is. We deserve to give ourselves compassion, forgiveness and the space to figure out what works for us.

2. Be Solutions Focused:

We live in duality, which means for every problem there is a solution! So look for the solutions. You might ask yourself, ”If there were an easy way to feel more self-confident, what would it be?” Then go do something that allows your mind to wander, like taking a walk or cleaning the house. See what ideas begin to pop up!

3. Stop Looking Outside Yourself for Approval:

Your dreams are yours. Only you get to live your life, so you are in the best position to determine how that goes. Instead of seeking approval from others, stop and ask yourself how you feel about each step along your path. Does it feel like contraction or expansion? Anything that feels like contraction is a no! Expanded feelings are a clear yes. Even something that is a bit outside your comfort zone can feel expanding. Start practicing tuning in to your inner self. Other people’s opinions don’t matter.

4. Make a list of your past accomplishments:

You’re still here, so something has gone right for you! When you sit down and start to list what has gone well in the past, you may be surprised at all you’ve accomplished. Did you graduate from school? Learn to swim? Get your driver’s license? Make a friend? Learn to play a musical instrument? Don’t discount past achievements because you think they’re not a big deal. When you think back, did any of those accomplishments seem challenging at the start? You did them anyway! Celebrate!

5. Re-frame “Failures:”

Was there something you wanted to do that didn’t work out? What did you learn from that experience? Everything is FOR us in some way. Some of our most valuable learning comes from things not going the way we’d hoped. There is not a person on the planet who has not experienced what we call failure. The smart ones use those times to grow. Most successful people will tell you their failures were their most valuable experiences along the path to success. Make a list of all the learning experiences you’ve had that you can put to work for you now.

6. Take Action:

Getting into action feels good and lets your brain know you’re serious about your goals. Action can get energy flowing. Each step you take toward your dreams will give you more self-confidence.

Make sure you’re in alignment with the action you want to take before you take it. To do that, all you have to do is feel good about it. Check in with yourself again and see if it feels expanding. Imagine taking that action and everything turning out even better than you imagined! Ask yourself, ”What if everything was easy? What if this was more successful than I could have possibly imagined? What if everything turns out great?”

Start with small steps and celebrate each successfully completed step. It’s important to celebrate each action along the way, rather than wait until the end. Celebrating sends a message to your brain that you are successful. That will help anchor feelings of confidence.

7. It May Be Time to Work with a Coach:

Another action you could take is to work with a coach. A coach will support you as you work toward your goals and building your self-confidence. A law of attraction coach will help you stay in alignment with your actions to help you manifest your dreams.