How to defeat self-doubt and stop selling yourself short

How much does doubt come up for you on a daily basis? Do you doubt your ability to perform at work or follow through on your intentions?

Do you doubt that someone could possibly love you or that people might like to be around you? Do you constantly doubt yourself and question the quality of your future? To what extent is doubt diminishing the quality of your life?

Doubt is one of the most debilitating forces in our lives, and it affects everyone on at least some level. If you want to blast through doubt and defeat it once and for all, then stay tuned, because today, I’m going to share a powerful, fun, and energizing way to do just that!

Now, before we begin, it’s important to understand that doubt will constantly creep into your mind and make a million excuses for why you don’t need to commit to the work as you approach this topic:

• It’s not doubt that stopping me; I just haven’t had any good opportunities!

• I don’t doubt myself; I’m just waiting for the right timing!

• This isn’t doubt; I just know that I can’t do it!

In order to move forward, we need to strip away all of the excuses that allow us to blame our holdups on the outside world.

The truth is that we are in control of our own destinies , but if we think everything “out there” is stopping us from achieving what we want, then we completely lose that control.

The only demon is doubt. This is a phrase I have come to know and love because doubt was once a huge controlling factor in my own life. Doubt can stop us in our tracks and poison our minds like a traitorous advisor.

Even as we take meaningful action toward a significant goal, doubt can creep in and make us question that progress and its effectiveness. This is because doubt is constantly trying to deter us from advancement because that is how we stay safe in our precious zone of comfort.

How does it do this? Through inversion.

To invert something is to turn it upside down or place it in its complete opposite arrangement. In the context of doubt and how it affects our mental states, inversion is the complete opposite of the truth.

Doubt works through inversion.

Doubt will tell you the exact opposite of the truth about you and your abilities and somehow, it will get you to believe it. Doubt will tell beautiful people that they are unattractive; it will tell articulate people that they are horrible communicators; it will tell strong people that they are weak.

Doubt can completely reprogram our minds by convincing us that we lack worth in some way.

So, in the fight against self-doubt, we need powerful yet simple tools that will allow us to access our inner strength and push that doubt aside so that it doesn’t hold any power over you. While there are many cognitive behavioral therapies that can work, the one I want to discuss with you today involves using your energy to combat this oppressive force.

To begin with, you’ll need to activate your body: if you’re able to do so, stand up and get loose. If you’re stuck in a car, just shake out your body and release any pent-up tension. Now, please read the following passage aloud in a strong, determined, and confident voice:

• “I am the captain of my ship. I am the master of my destiny.”

Did you do it? The entire purpose of this exercise is to engage your full energy, which involves your voice and all of its conviction . . . so, no slacking on this—you must read it aloud!

• “I am the captain of my ship. I am the master of my destiny.”

Good! Now, let’s do it again, and this time, get more of your energy and physicality involved: use gestures; use your face and all of its expression; double your volume if you can. Really put your full body into the exercise!

• “I am the captain of my ship. I am the master of my destiny. I defy doubt. I defeat doubt. I destroy doubt!”

Repeat this phrasing several times until you begin to really let go and accept this empowering affirmation of statements that are actually true. How do you feel? Are you really going full out? Are you committing to this process so that you can practice overcoming your doubt?

If you truly want to force that voice of insecurity to the wayside, you must accept and commit to the work that comes as a part of that journey. If you can’t even stand up in a room by yourself and say a few phrases out loud, then doubt will own your forever.

The delightful irony here is that doubt is the only thing that might be stopping you from something as simple as committing to this simple anti-doubt exercise!

Is doubt telling you that this exercise is stupid and that it won’t help you anyway? Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that it’s right: then what do you have to lose by trying? It won’t hurt you or anyone else; it won’t embarrass you; it won’t even take that much time or energy (actually, it is more likely to build your energy up).

Everything that doubt is keeping you from attempting is really just an excuse—it’s a ploy to keep you safe and deny you the chance to do great things.

This simple exercise can help you begin the journey toward liberation from your doubt—it’s a way to stand up to that oppressive voice and let it know that you’re the one who’s in control. When you do that, you gain power; you take more risks; you create the opportunity to go after what you want in life!

• “I am the captain of my ship! I am the master of my destiny! I defy doubt! I defeat doubt! I destroy doubt!”

The more you can commit to these statements and bask in the power and energy behind their meaning, the more you will want to capitalize on your newfound power and do everything that doubt tells you is impossible. Commit to practicing this work on a daily basis, and you will not believe the extent to which such a simple activity can turn your life around! Your dreams are within reach, and this exercise can help you get there.

As always, I invite you to subscribe, “like” this post, and go out and take some action! Leave any comments or questions below: How has this exercise energized you to take action? What doubt is holding you back from moving forward? After you take action, let us all know how it goes so that we can each learn and grow from the work of our peers.

Until then, may you have the courage to be who you are and to know on a deep level that you’re awesome. I’ll talk to you soon.

About The Author:
Dr. Aziz Gazipura is a clinical psychologist and one of the world’s leading experts on social confidence. After being stuck in shyness and social anxiety himself for almost 10 years, he became determined to find a way to social freedom. You can connect with him on his Facebook, Twitter and official website.