Strategies for Overcoming Self-Doubt
"We are told to ignore haters, but the nagging feeling of self-doubt can be so pervasive it becomes a type of hater too. We're our own harshest critic. And the worst part: we know we're not good enough."
This quote is one that many people can resonate with and it's especially true for people who enter the world of freelancing or entrepreneurship. It's easy to feel like there are no other options than simply quitting when self-doubt is in full swing, but if you want your business (or freelancing career) to succeed then there must be a way around that horrible feeling of worthlessness.
In this article I'm going to share my best tips on how to defeat self-doubt and turn that horrible feeling of "I'm not good enough" into one of "I'm going to be great!"
1. You Are Good Enough: Processing Self-Doubt
The first thing you must do is understand that self-doubt is not always wrong. There are times when you are absolutely correct in your assessment of yourself but many times doubt is simply "wrong". In the example above, it's easy to see the difference between an honest assessment of self versus a false one. If you can learn to recognize the difference then you can begin to see when there is something to be learned from your doubt and when it's simply a worthless emotion that only serves as a distraction.
2. You Are Good Enough: Rejection and Criticism
It's natural for us to fear rejection and criticism but they are both part of a successful freelancing career. If you avoid them at all costs, then your career will never flourish because you'll never take any risks. You'll be too afraid to reach out to new potential clients, ask for referrals or testimonials, and never let anyone critique your work (or you).
3. You Are Good Enough: Staying Positive
Being positive is the best way to resist doubt and any negative feelings that are associated with it. The more you can fake positivity (in a healthy way) the better you'll feel about yourself and your career. If you want to ignore doubt, then you must focus on happy thoughts as much as possible.
4. You Are Good Enough: Take Risks
Doubts greatest enemy is action. The more you take risks and put yourself out there, the better you'll feel about everything - especially yourself.
5. You Are Good Enough: Appreciate Yourself
Yes, it's nice to hear compliments on your work from others. However, you must also learn to compliment yourself because that's the only way to keep self-doubt in check. If you're constantly pointing out flaws then that is how you'll feel about yourself no matter what others have to say about the matter. By making lists of all of your achievements and accomplishments you can start to see a more positive picture for yourself.
6. You Are Good Enough: Be a Learner
Doubt consumes us. If you truly want to defeat self-doubt then you must learn how to overcome it. The best way to do this is offer up your negative feelings as a learning experience and the more often you can do this, the easier it will be for you.
7. You Are Good Enough: Turn Self-Doubt into Action
This is probably the most important tip of all. If you truly want to beat doubt then don't sit on your hands waiting for things to get better but take action right now! This means starting new projects, sending out more emails, asking for help from others, or taking risks that could make your business grow.
8. You Are Good Enough: Learn to Let Go
There will be times when you feel like self-doubt is taking over and there's nothing you can do to stop it. In these moments, it's important to try your best to let go of that negative emotion and embrace positivity. This doesn't mean ignoring the problem entirely but it does mean trying your best to keep a sweet perspective during a difficult time.
9. You Are Good Enough: Enjoy Life
I know this seems contradictory because I've said that success requires taking risks but enjoying life takes priority over everything else. If you take anything away from this article, take this tip. Enjoying life is the best way to stop self-doubt in its tracks because you can't enjoy living unless you are truly grateful for where you are and who you are.
10. You Are Good Enough: Stay the Course
Yes, there will be times when self-doubt will return but it's your job to push through those moments and stay focused on what matters most. If a project that was worth undertaking wasn't easy, then it wouldn't be worth doing. Keep this in mind during those moments when doubt seems unconquerable.
11. You Are Good Enough: Have Faith
Faith in yourself is the ultimate way to defeat self-doubt. You have to believe that your dreams can and will come true if you stay the course and never give in. The more you believe, the more you'll have a positive outlook on life which is what I think it ultimately comes down to - doing something because you love it, not because you're trying to prove anything.
12. You Are Good Enough: Stop Relying on Others
This is a great tip for those of you who are just starting out on your journey. It's easy to let other people's opinions guide your actions because it's so important to please others but when you enter the world of freelancing or entrepreneurship there is no better time to take control over your life! Remember, as much as you want help, don't ask for it.
13. You Are Good Enough: Make Yourself a List of Things You Can't Live Without
When you're feeling down about yourself, it's easy to convince yourself that everything will be ok even if you can't do things the way that makes you happiest. This is the worst thing you can do to stop self-doubt because it's not true. There are things that make you who you are and if you lose them, then your life will become an endless cycle of pain that is far worse than any negative emotion you can experience.
14. You Are Good Enough: Change Your Perspective
If self-doubt is getting the best of you, then perhaps it's time to change your perspective on the world around you. This doesn't mean running off and taking a vacation (although, that wouldn't hurt either) but it does mean finding something in your life that makes everything better.
Conclusion
Doubt is a natural emotion that will come and go throughout your career. The key is to not let doubt stop you from doing the things that bring you joy.