I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this. I’ve been second-guessing myself a lot lately and it’s really getting in the way of my productivity. Do you ever have those days where you just can’t seem to get anything done because you’re working through self-doubt and over thinking? Yeah, me too.
I think we all go through these periods of – it’s perfectly normal. But when it starts to impact your work, that’s when it becomes a problem. So how do you deal with it?
Overview: Working through self-doubt and over thinking
- The first step is acknowledging that you have self-doubt and over thinking habits.
- Understand where this doubt comes from – is it based on reality or your own fears and insecurities?
- Create a plan to work through your self-doubt, which may include seeking professional help or talking to friends and family, or journaling.
- Follow through with your plan and be patient – it takes time to change long-standing habits.
- Reward yourself for making progress and don’t beat yourself up if you have setbacks.
Detail: Working through self-doubt and over thinking
1. Acknowledging the problem
Coming to terms with self-doubt and over thinking can be a tall, monster order. Let’s be honest, most of us feel like it’s all too much to handle at least without resorting to unhealthy eating habits or copious amounts of alcohol.
So how do you overcome these roadblocks? You acknowledge they exist. That might sound easier said than done, but there’s power in admitting your mental struggles exist. Just like how a step out the door is always the first one you must take if you want to leave your house.
Give yourself a pat on the back – literally too if you can 🙂 for owning up to your problems, and that ownership will help propel you forward.
2. Understand the problem
Understanding where your problems come from can be a tricky business, especially when your confidence levels aren’t that high, to begin with. The problem is usually a combination of real facts and projections based on your own fears.
Let’s take a step back and look at it objectively; first, try to define what is tangible and what is bulls@#t (pardon my French). By distinguishing between the two, you’ll be able to find out if there’s something of substance behind your doubts or if your psychology is playing cruel tricks on you.
Once that part is sorted, you’ll be able to assertively move forward with whatever is doubted in the first place!
3. Create a plan
Have you ever felt like the voice of self-doubt and over thinking just was too powerful, and no matter how hard you tried to shush it, it seemed to only grow stronger? Well, I guess you do, since you reading this.
So now what? Try talking things through with friends and family who know and understand you, it may give some clarity or drive you crazy in which case try something else.
Journaling is a great tool to help process your thoughts – there is often a comfort in writing things out into the world as sorting through our thoughts helps us discover previously hidden answers.
If all else fails it may be useful to seek professional help such as a counselor or life coach who can offer better and more practical solutions tailored to your particular situation.
Hopefully by creating a plan – however small – to combat self-doubt we can all start finding peace of mind within ourselves.
4. Follow through
Taking control of your thoughts and patterns is hard, but significant. You can’t expect any change to happen overnight; so give yourself time to trust yourself and put together the confidence to follow through with your plan.
Be patient with yourself; long-standing habits won’t disappear with the snap of a finger. Put your plan into action, make the commitment, trust the process, and keep moving – doubt only takes you so far.
5. Reward yourself
It can be so tricky to move forward. We hear all this stuff about pushing through and not letting things stop us, but we know that no amount of ‘push harder’ will make it easy. That’s why it’s important to give yourself props for the progress you’ve made — even if it’s small or slow.
At the same time, accepting letdown gracefully and understanding that setbacks are a part of growth is also essential. It won’t always feel great but don’t beat yourself up for not being perfect: Rome wasn’t built in a day, after all!
Before you go…
Don’t let self-doubt and over thinking overwhelm you; instead, use it to drive you forward and develop the kind of strength that only comes from tackling difficult circumstances head-on.
Building your self-confidence takes time, but it’s doable by clarifying your focus on achievable goals- it WILL get easier and eventually become second nature. As we continue to challenge ourselves and build resilience, so too will our experience with our mental health improve.
Everyone has different ways of combating these unpleasant feelings and no one should feel ashamed to find their own unique path towards dealing with them in an effective manner. Let’s make an effort together, take control of our processes, and make sure that self-doubt never has the upper hand.
Charlie
Charlene is a published author/writer who has embarked on a personal journey, with the hope of providing guidance, support and advice to all who may need it.