The meaning of self-doubt is the lack of confidence in oneself and one’s ability! Van Gogh is reported to have said this: “if you hear a voice sighing you say `you cannot paint,’ then by all mean pain, and that voice will be silenced”. Sometimes we get into a wrestling match with a voice in our heads that tell us that we cannot do something or we cannot become anything of worth that’s when we have to immediately block out that annoying voice and immediately do it so we can prove ourself wrong! In order to get past this so-called self-doubt, we must embrace doubt as part of being human, self-doubt is there to protect us from the humiliation that comes with failing and falling flat on your face. Dr. Kristen Neff says “don’t beat yourself up for beating yourself up”. We must befriend it; to acknowledge that it’s just trying to keep you safe and spare you humiliation. Embracing self-doubt as an intrinsic part of the human experience is crucial to taking back the freaking power it has held over you… until now!! You are a human, mistakes will happen, you will have doubts, push that shit aside and try anyways, you can learn from those failures and grow from it!! DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS!! Self-doubts are just your fears made manifest in order to protect you from loss. To paraphrase Shakespeare, doubt often makes you lose out on what you may have gained by fearing the attempt. Your doubts are not the truth! They’re fear-fueled stories that you create about who you’re, what you’re worth and what you’re capable of achieving. YOUR DOUBTS ARE NOT THE TRUTH!! The next time you start to doubt yourself, take a moment to challenge that thought; to doubt your doubts!! Ask yourself “what if just the opposite were true”? What if, in fact, you were more than prepared for a bigger role? If you had everything it takes to build that business? CALL OUT YOUR CRITIC!! Often we hear our doubts relayed through the voice of our inner critic. You know the one… it’s constantly pointing out your faults, questioning your worthiness, and urging you to play it safe!! You can’t permanently silence it, however, you can dilute its power by giving it a name. MAKE YOUR MISSION BIGGER THAN YOUR FEAR!! Only when you’re clear about your big “why” can you find the courage needed to step through your doubts and risk failing. You need to be able to find a clear and compelling answer to the question “for the sake of what am I willing to be brave”? Doing so will help you crystalize why you must take action despite your doubts, know that if you let them win, you will run the bigger risk of one day looking back and wondering “what if I’d tried”? Don’t let self-doubt leave you with regret when you’re on your way out of this world!! BUILD A TRIBE OF BELIEVERS!!? Surround yourself with people who bring out your best and embolden your thinking, you can do more, be more and give more than you ever could otherwise!! The people you hang out with will either fuel your self-doubt or fuel your confidence; so if you’re ready to make a change or take a chance, make sure you surround yourself with people who will help you to stay in action despite your doubts. Avoid those who don’t!! TRAIN THE BRAVE. DAILY!! The best way to “train the brave” is to start right where you’re right now with whatever problem or opportunity you are facing, and ask yourself “what would I do right now if I were brave”? Chances are your doubts will be screaming at you to do just the opposite. Thank them for trying to protect you, then tell them you’re not here to live a safe life, you’re here to live the biggest life you’re capable of living. Then put your hand on your heart, imagine your success, take a big long breath and then JUST DO IT!! Research has found that every time you take action in the presence of your doubts you dilute their power and amplify your own!! “Only when you dare to do the very thing you doubt you can do, will you realize how little you ever needed to doubt yourself, to begin with”. Never ever doubt yourself! It’s the number one killer of dreams and success!!