Your mind is powerful. We choose what we put into it—the things we learn, the nutrients we consume, and the emotions we feel. It’s important to feed the mind with the right supply. A healthy mind means a happier self. What I struggle the most with, personally, is filling my mind with positive thoughts about myself.
Self-doubt.
It destroys the mind. When you doubt yourself, you have a difficult time even knowing your strengths and believing in yourself to be capable of anything.
I can’t do that.
I’m not smart enough.
I’m not good enough.
They probably think I’m an idiot.
Do you ever have those thoughts cross your mind?
With self-doubt comes a lack of confidence and constant comparison to others. And with that constant comparing comes an unhappy self. You cannot live like that. You can’t depend on others to make you feel better when you have all the power yourself! So I’m here to give some advice that I, myself, am working on. I hope it helps others too.
- Change your thought process.
There is nothing more important than this statement. You have the power to. Your mind is just that… YOURS. Empower it with positivity and know that the negative thoughts only decrease your capabilities because they set you back and keep you stuck in the “can not’s” and “will not’s”. I think the most powerful realization I’ve had is realizing that my fear of failing, embarrassment, and not being good enough made me miss so many great opportunities.
“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” – Proverbs 4:23 NCV
You influence you. Your thoughts affect your decisions, your actions, and your outcomes. Two psychologists, Michael F. Scheier and Charles S. Carver, conducted a study about optimism, coping, and health. What they found was that optimism and pessimism are “linked to core processes that underlie behavior”. They found that the biggest difference between optimists and pessimists was how they tackled a problem. People who think positively do better because they are problem solvers. They try to improve the situations they are in. When you think negatively, you’re stuck. Don’t be stuck, change your course, think good thoughts!
2. Forget about others’ thoughts and comparing yourself.
Oh, my. My biggest pitfall. How can I just forget about that?
Well, it’s pretty easily actually, if you let yourself. Focus on the task at hand, not the people around you. Put your energy into the right things. The only good thing that comes from worrying about others’ thoughts of you is… absolutely nothing. It’s a setback. A setback from getting out of your past, solving the present, and advancing into your successful future.
“Your beauty should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” – 1 Peter 3:4
Our God knows our worries and the plans for our lives. He doesn’t compare the achievements of others to you because you have your own headed your way! You have been designed by Him. You can’t worry about the thoughts of others, what they have done, and what you haven’t because you have your own path. The person you are is perfect in His eyes and there is no need to worry about the thoughts of others.
3. Bring yourself out of your comfort zone.
One of my favorite quotes, “Your largest fear carries your greatest growth,” pretty much sums up everything I want to say. Self-doubt stunts personal growth. You can’t expect to succeed when you’re not challenging yourself or putting yourself in uncomfortable situations. You learn from experience and you can’t learn if you aren’t put in new situations. There is a reason for everything that happens—every opportunity that is put in your path and every struggle that you face. It is a learning process. So put your self-doubt to a rest and put yourself in a new situation that challenges you for the better.
“You have so much incredible potential on the inside. God has put gifts and talents in you that you probably don't know anything about.” –Joel Osteen
How will you know what your potential is if you don’t take a step out of your comfort zone? Take a leap! God will only be behind you to guide where you land. There is not a better feeling than taking a challenge and beating a fear.
So, change your thought process to the positive, which leads to forgetting about comparing yourself and branching out of your comfort zone. I can promise that taking the leap of faith to better yourself will change the way you think about yourself for the better. Self-doubt is a poison that affects all aspects in your life—your mindset, your goals, and even your health. Make a healthy mind for a healthy life and love yourself. Kick self-doubt to the curb.
