11 Effective Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt for Good

Self-doubt is that nagging inner voice keeping you from moving towards your goals and aspirations.

But it wasn’t always there…

Doubting yourself is the learned behavior you developed throughout your childhood and teenage years. The opinions of others, criticism, bullying, and even overprotection erode confidence over time, as it did for me.

The good news?

You can reverse its effects, unlearn this behavior, and overcome self-doubt.

In this article, we’ll uncover the following:

• What is self-doubt
• Examples of self-doubt
• The signs of self-doubt
• The impact of doubting yourself
• Why do you doubt yourself
• Questions to identify self-doubt
• How to overcome self-doubt

In addition, check out the related articles in this series, including this guide on confidence and self-esteem and the best books on self-confidence.

Let’s dive in!

What is self-doubt?

Self-doubt is a common experience defined as a lack of self-worth and self-belief. It manifests as a persistent inner voice that questions your self-competence and potential, causing hesitation, indecision, and a sense of being stuck.

In other words, self-doubt is an internal battle.

Doubting yourself means grappling with uncertainty, fear of falling short, and overthinking every little detail of pretty much everything. 

In addition, you doubt your achievements and fear being exposed as a fraud, also known as imposter syndrome.

But you’re not alone…

A whopping 85% of the population experiences self-doubt and low self-esteem.

Let’s uncover how self-doubt shows up.

Examples of self-doubt

Self-doubt is an unpleasant experience that undermines self-confidence and creates a sense of uncertainty.

Here are some examples:

• Questioning whether you’ve chosen the right career path.
• Feeling uncertain about your professional abilities to succeed.
• Staying in an unsatisfying job or career because the idea of pursuing a new job or career path overwhelms you.
• Fearing that your creative expressions aren’t good enough.
• Lacking self-belief in your entrepreneurial abilities that hold you back from pursuing a side hustle or business.
• Questioning your worthiness of love, success, or happiness.
• Feeling unsure about your social skills.
• Constantly comparing yourself to others and feeling inadequate.
• Doubting your own abilities to achieve tasks or meet expectations.
• Questioning your competence, despite evidence of past achievements.
• Feeling anxious in social settings and fearful of making mistakes.
• Seeking validation to make even the smallest decisions.

These examples reveal that self-doubt appears in many ways and in all areas of life. Let’s further examine the signs of self-doubt.

What are the signs of self-doubt?

While the examples of self-doubt already indicate some of its signs, here’s a clear list of clues that reveal an inner battle with doubt:

• Feeling worthless and insecure
• Constantly questioning yourself
• Having a loud inner critic
• Avoiding any risk-taking
• Excessive self-criticism
• Consistent negative self-talk
• Fear of failure and mistakes
• Afraid of judgment and criticism
• Needing approval from others
• Seeking external validation
• Procrastination and passivity
• Comparing yourself to others
• Pleasing others at a personal cost
• Struggling to make personal decisions
• Feeling overwhelmed or anxious by uncertainty
• Persistent indecisiveness and second-guessing
• Downplaying your personal strengths and talents
• Inability to acknowledge and celebrate achievements
• Difficulty accepting compliments or positive feedback
• Feeling like an imposter despite evidence of competence

It’s natural to doubt yourself sometimes – and I still experience it too. 

But if you never learn to stop doubting yourself, it’ll prevent you from living a more fulfilling life.

The impact of doubting yourself

Doubting yourself erodes motivation, undermines self-confidence, and hinders your potential for productivity, joy, and happiness. 

Here’s the negative impact of persistent self-doubt:

• Hinders decision-making: Constant second-guessing reduces your effectiveness in making choices.
• Undermines self-esteem: Frequent self-questioning leads to low self-belief and decreases your sense of self-worth.
• Creates excessive worry and anxiety: Overthinking amplifies your concerns about negative outcomes.
• Limits personal growth: Fear of failure and rejection prevents you from stepping out of your comfort zone.
• Reduces your willingness to take risks: You miss many opportunities because you play it safe. 
• Sabotaging meaningful relationships: Doubting yourself can cause you to withdraw from social events and connections.
• Increases stress levels: The internal pressure of needing to prove yourself drains your mental and emotional energy.
• Diminishes goal pursuit: Lacking self-belief reduces motivation and increases procrastination, making it difficult to succeed.
• Can contribute to imposter syndrome: Doubt fuels your fears and dismisses your achievements as luck.
• Leads to regret: Overthinking and hesitancy lead you to miss opportunities, leading to future regrets.
• Impairs overall well-being and quality of life: The cumulative impact leads to a downward spiral, affecting your mental health, self-care, and overall life satisfaction.

If self-doubt goes unchecked, you can expect poor performance and a decline of your mental health and energy levels. However, recognizing when you’re experiencing self-doubt is the first step towards reclaiming confidence. 

But where did it come from in the first place?

Why do you doubt yourself?

Understanding why you doubt yourself will empower you to tackle the underlying problems and effectively make positive changes.

Here are some of its sources:

• Lack of self-awareness
• Negative past experiences and traumas
• Constant comparison to others
• Fear of judgment or criticism
• Emphasis on external validation
• Unsupportive relationships or community
• Unrealistic expectations or perfectionism
• Frequent negative self-talk
• Low self-esteem and self-worth
• Lack of personal goals and direction
• Lack of meaning and purpose
• Overthinking everything
• Self-limiting beliefs
• Imposter syndrome
• Negative self-perception or self-image
• Pressure to conform to societal norms
• Sensitive to uncertainty and change
• Lack of skills or knowledge

The more you understand the causes, the better you can deal with self-doubt. Finally, let’s identify your starting point for change before we dive into the strategies to overcome self-doubt.

Questions to identify self-doubt

Seeing your improvements fuels motivation and drives continuous action and personal growth. That’s why I recommend measuring your progress.

What’s your current level of self-doubt? 

Rate each of the following statements on a scale of 0 to 4, whereas 0 equals “Highly disagree”, 2 is “Neutral”, and 4 means “Highly agree”:

1. I frequently question or second-guess my abilities and decisions.
2. I’m hesitant to take risks or pursue new opportunities.
3. I often seek approval from others to feel confident.
4. I find it challenging to accept compliments.
5. I struggle to own my accomplishments.
6. I often engage in negative self-talk.
7. I compare myself to others and often feel inadequate.
8. I’m hesitant to express my opinions or ideas.
9. I frequently set unrealistic expectations and feel disappointed when I fail to meet them.
10. Self-doubt significantly impacts my ability to bounce back from setbacks or persevere through challenges.
11. I’m overly critical of myself and struggle with self-understanding, self-acceptance, and self-compassion.

Add up your points and divide your total score by 44. Then multiply it by 100 to get your percentage score. A higher percentage indicates more self-doubts, while a lower score suggests a more confident mindset. 

For example, I scored 9 points. 9/44 = 0.2045 multiplied by 100 equals around 20%. For reference, I would’ve exceeded 75% in my early 20s.

Avoid attaching your self-worth to this number.

Instead, see your score as a starting point for self-improvement. 

Save this article to your bookmarks, take action on the tips below, and repeat the questionnaire in the future to measure improvements.

How to overcome self-doubt

In this section, you’ll learn 11 practical tips to deal with self-doubt and improve and maintain confidence.

Try each of them to find out which ideas work best for you.

Stack your favorite strategies to manage self-doubt – and overcome doubtful moments at any time in the future.

#1: Change your relationship with self-doubt

Your thought process influences your actions. And frequent negative self-talk paralyzes you from taking action and hinders progress.

But what if you can transform your internal saboteur into a trusted advisor?

Instead of resisting self-doubt, embrace fear, uncertainty, and discomfort as catalysts for growth. 

Recognize that self-doubt is a natural part of the human experience, not a sign of weakness. Listen to its whispers, but don’t let them define you. 

Consider these examples:

• Thomas Edison famously failed 10.000 times before finally getting to a working light bulb.
• J.K. Rowling faced numerous rejections from publishers before finding success with the Harry Potter series. 
• Oprah Winfrey became a media mogul, despite facing adversity, including abuse and discrimination.
• Steve Jobs got kicked out of his own company to return later and lead Apple to unprecedented success.
• Serena Williams faced many doubts and setbacks before becoming one of the greatest tennis players.

There’s no greatness without fear and self-doubt. And opting for a safe approach to the game of life only leads to regrets.

Instead, view these signals as your greatest opportunities.

Changing your perspective on self-doubt and challenging disempowering beliefs will make it much easier to face tough situations.

#2: Practice self-compassion

Approaching yourself with kindness and broader self-understanding counters self-criticism.

Here are some tips to be more self-compassionate:

• Practice meditation or mindfulness to raise self-awareness.
• Recognize and accept self-doubt without judgment.
• Raise your curiosity; where do your doubts come from?
• Treat yourself the way you would treat a close friend.
• Encourage yourself by engaging in positive self-talk.
• Practice self-care and prioritize activities that promote well-being.
• Gain perspective from trusted friends, family, or professionals.
• Self-reflect to identify and challenge negative beliefs.
• Practice gratitude to shift your focus to positive aspects of life.
• Celebrate your progress and achievements, no matter how small.

Make self-compassion a daily practice. Turn a few tips into habits to nurture a positive relationship with yourself. 

#3: Make tiny commitments to yourself – and keep them

Breaking promises to yourself and others reduces self-esteem.

The easy fix?

Stick to every single commitment and promise you make to yourself and others.

I know, sometimes it’s easier said than done. 

But there’s a simple approach to improve self-discipline.

And that’s setting many achievable goals daily – and then achieving them.

Even better if you can turn these goals into good habits, like exercising, cooking nutritious meals, drinking enough water, meditating, and more.

Making and keeping tiny commitments builds momentum and proves that you’re capable of success. 

#4: Stop comparing yourself

Comparing yourself to others is a fruitless endeavor that drains your energy and undermines self-esteem.

We all know that…

Yet, most of us end up comparing ourselves to others.

So, let’s clarify why comparisons are so fruitless:

1. Authentic self: everyone has unique strengths, talents, circumstances, and personality traits.
2. Unique paths: everyone follows a different path through life, with other goals, ambitions, experiences, and timelines.
3. Social masks: External appearances and achievements don’t necessarily reflect one’s inner joy, happiness, or fulfillment.
4. Self-destruction: Comparisons often lead to negative self-talk and self-doubt, hindering personal growth and well-being.
5. Distraction: Focusing on others leads you away from being your authentic self, your life’s path, and your unique needs and goals, preventing you from embracing your true potential.

You’re not somebody else.

They’re not you. 

And comparisons are irrelevant and a waste of your time.

My life became more meaningful, joyful, and rewarding once I stopped looking at others to find answers to internal problems.

By letting go of comparisons and fully embracing your own journey, you’ll experience greater self-assurance, freedom, and personal fulfillment.

#5: Learn self-validation techniques

Self-validation means recognizing and affirming your own worth and value, independent of external opinions and validation. It involves self-acceptance, trusting yourself, and independent decision-making. 

Foster inner validation with the following techniques:

• Develop self-awareness to become aware of recurring patterns.
• Begin your self-discovery journey to foster self-understanding.
• Practice positive self-talk and challenge self-doubt.
• Set personal goals that align with your core values.
• Find supportive people who appreciate you for who you are.
• Engage in self-care activities that nourish your well-being.
• Keep a gratitude journal to focus on positive aspects of your life.
• Celebrate small victories and milestones along your journey.
• Acknowledge and celebrate regular efforts and progress.
• Trust your intuition and do what feels right to you.
• Meditate or practice mindfulness to get into the present moment and experience feelings and emotions.

Once again, the idea is to pick up a few practices that work for you and make them a regular part of your daily routine.

Teaching yourself to embrace your worth from within by finding validation in your own achievements and growth enables you to break free from the need for external validation.

#6: Embrace failure

Embracing failure is essential for growth and success.

After all, fear is never going away.

And avoiding it only leads to mediocrity and regret.

The only alternative is to become more comfortable with the sensation of fear.

But that’s not easy.

We especially experience fear during the initial phases of starting something, whether going to the gym, starting a new career, or dating someone. That’s when persistence matters most.

Some tips for embracing fear:

• Shift your perspective: Reinforce the belief that failure is a sign of personal growth and essential for success and well-being.
• Embrace discomfort: Stepping outside your comfort zone into your growth zone is an essential activity that empowers long-term growth, success, and happiness.
• Cultivate resilience: View mistakes as learning opportunities. And rather than judging yourself, wonder what you can learn from your setbacks to bounce back stronger.
• Set realistic expectations: Understand that your expectation shapes your experiences. Set ambitious goals but know that failure is an inevitable part of the journey. Not everything will unfold how you wish.
• Practice self-compassion: Understand that everyone faces failures and setbacks, especially those who strive for ambitious goals or seek to make a difference in the world.

Embracing failures and mistakes unlocks your greatest potential for personal development, propelling you towards a richer future.

#7: Engaging in self-reflection 

Taking a step back from your thoughts and emotions enables you to gain perspective and understand the underlying causes of your doubts.

Consider these practical self-reflection ideas:

• Journal: Write down your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and observations to gain insights and identify patterns.
• Question assumptions: Block some time to challenge negative self-talk and question the validity of your doubts.
• Meditation: Practice moments of sitting in stillness and observe thoughts and emotions without judgment. While there are many ways to meditate, I enjoy the simple practice of focusing on your breathing for a set duration of 10-20 minutes.
• Seek feedback: Asking others for input provides different insights and perspectives that improve self-awareness.
• Identify triggers: Pay attention to situations or triggers that tend to activate self-doubt and explore them further.

Regular and accurate reflection leads to deeper self-understanding and uncovers the root causes of self-doubt. Self-awareness was one of the biggest contributing factors to overcoming my own self-doubt.

#8: Surround yourself with supportive people

Surrounding yourself with great people is essential for personal growth, joy, and success. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to lack a good friend or supportive friends

While you don’t have to ditch unsupportive friends, it would benefit you to build a parallel network of uplifting people. And to then increase your time around them while reducing it around those who hold you back.

That can be uncomfortable at first.

And building new connections is especially difficult when you doubt yourself.

But if you lack supportive friends and are willing to take the plunge, consider these suggestions to find and nurture a supportive network:

• Join communities: Engage in groups, clubs, or online communities that align with your interests and goals.
• Seek mentors: Find experienced individuals or coaches who can offer guidance, share their experiences, and provide insights.
• Cultivate relationships: Meet many new people and then build deep connections with those who uplift and inspire you.
• Communicate openly: Sharing your journey, challenges, and aspirations builds trust, mutual understanding, and empathy.
• Offer support: The fastest way to build a solid network of supportive people is by becoming the person you seek to attract.
• Professional help: If you struggle to find people who understand you, it’s worth considering the help of a professional.

Shifting your time and energy from those who pull you back towards those who uplift you is a catalyst for personal change.

#9: Question your thoughts and limiting beliefs

Your perception determines your reality.

But our perception is often heavily distorted by negative experiences and setbacks. And identifying and challenging negative self-talk and limiting beliefs are essential to expanding your perspective. 

Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Gain awareness: Pay attention to your thoughts and identify self-doubting patterns or negative beliefs.
2. Self-questioning: Ask yourself if your thoughts are based on facts or assumptions. And challenge its supporting evidence.
3. Research alternative perspectives: What are other viewpoints that contradict your self-doubt? And what evidence can you find in your own or other people’s experiences?
4. Test reality: Assess whether your thoughts and beliefs align with objective reality. Are they realistic and rational? What about the alternative perspectives?
5. Reframe your thoughts: Replace self-doubt with the most realistic and empowering thoughts and beliefs. 
6. Self-compassion: Be kind to yourself during this process – it takes time to establish permanent change.

By consistently questioning and reframing your thoughts, you gain more control over your mind, enabling you to conquer your self-doubts.

#10: Embark on self-discovery

Learning about yourself empowers you to focus on yourself and create a life in alignment with your values, strengths, and most authentic self.

Increasing self-understanding promotes self-acceptance, reducing the need for constant comparison and external validation.

Here are a few starting points to discover yourself:

• Take a free online personality test
• Discover your personal strengths
• Identify your personal core values
• Determine a meaningful life’s purpose
• Create a personal vision statement for who you want to become

Self-discovery improves clarity, strengthens self-belief, and cultivates a more confident and authentic self-image while diminishing self-doubt.

#11: Map your life with your authentic self

Finally, it’s important to find ways to lean into your most authentic self to live your most meaningful and fulfilling way.

Just knowing stuff isn’t enough.

It’s essential to put self-knowledge into practice. And to design your life around who you are and what’s most important to you.

Everything changed when I did.

As a natural introvert, I struggle to focus in noisy and stimulative environments. I much prefer working alone in a cubicle most of the time.

That’s also why I now enjoy a freelancing career.

Although I still seek social environments, I’ve set up most of my life to match my strengths, needs, and personality.

Of course, that didn’t happen overnight.

Before I had my freelance skills, I worked in an open office space with stimulus from all sides, draining my energy and limiting productivity. 

So what did I do?

I came in early to find a corner spot. 

That way, the stimulus would only come from a few directions.

And that small adjustment made a huge difference.

What changes can you already make to match your personality better?

And what long-term goals can you set to improve your lifestyle and design it to work optimally with who you are?

What’s next?

Overcoming self-doubt is a process that takes some time. But if you turn a few of the tips into daily habits, you’ll build self-assurance and esteem.

Key points to remember:

• Self-awareness is the starting point for all self-improvement. 
• Embracing discomfort and fear are catalysts for transformation.
• Build habits around the tips that work for you to develop self-esteem and start overcoming self-doubt.

For further personal development resources that can help you overcome self-doubt, I recommend:

• Best courses on confidence and self-esteem
• Best self-esteem and confidence books
• Best guided journals

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