Summary

The article discusses the concept of self-doubt, its impact on personal achievement, and strategies for overcoming it.

Abstract

The article "Are You A Doubter?" delves into the nature of doubt, particularly self-doubt, and its detrimental effects on an individual's ability to achieve their goals. It defines doubt both as a verb and a noun, highlighting its role in creating uncertainty and lack of confidence. The text explores the sources of self-doubt, including unfamiliar situations that trigger a protective response from the brain and past influences such as negative feedback from parents or teachers. The author emphasizes that doubt can lead to stress, anxiety, and fear, but it can also be a catalyst for growth if managed properly. Strategies for overcoming doubt include recognizing its origins, taking action despite uncertainty, and adopting a positive mantra. The article encourages readers to confront their doubts by moving forward and taking risks, suggesting that action is the most effective way to combat doubt and achieve personal goals.

Opinions

Self-doubt is portrayed as an internal barrier that can prevent individuals from realizing their potential and accomplishing their objectives.
The author suggests that doubt is a natural protective mechanism against unfamiliar situations but can be misplaced when the situation is not actually threatening.
Doubt is seen as both an innate response to new challenges and a learned behavior from past experiences and external influences.
The article posits that doubt can be debilitating, leading to a lack of self-belief and the reinforcement of imposter syndrome.
Overcoming doubt is presented as a choice, with action being the key to proving one's capabilities and silencing self-doubt.
The author believes that doubt can be beneficial if it prompts self-reflection and a reassessment of one's approach to challenges.
Encouragement is given to readers to take decisive action and to not let doubt dictate their life choices, advocating for a proactive stance against doubt's paralyzing effects.

Are You A Doubter?

You have the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Why do you stop yourself?

Doubt is a funny word. It sounds funny, it’s spelled funny, but it’s not funny when you apply it to yourself.

According to Merriam-Webster when used as a verb doubt means:

1: to call into question the truth of: to be uncertain or in doubt about

2a: to lack confidence in: distrust

2b: to consider unlikely

As a noun:

1a: a lack of confidence : distrust

1b: an inclination not to believe or accept

2a: uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making

2b: a deliberate suspension of judgment

3: a state of affairs giving rise to uncertainty, hesitation, or suspense

Words which often work in its place are mistrust, question, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, and also uncertainty.

It’s easy to doubt others. Maybe it’s a co-worker who never completes projects on time. Or a partner who lets you down. There’s doubt whether they will get the job done.

In relation to yourself, doubt can be devastating. Doubt can become not believing in yourself. Telling yourself you cannot accomplish a goal. Maybe you believe you’re an imposter or a fake. Doubt leads you to believe you’re not capable of what’s in front of you.

When you doubt yourself, how do you do it?

Is it more of an uncertainty about the quality of what you’re working on, such as you’re not sure about your project? Uncertain about your behavior?

Or is it doubt about who you are? Hearing yourself say, “what am I doing here, why am I working at this job, what’s the purpose of my life, or why am I in this relationship?”

What’s the source of your doubt?

One source of doubt comes from not having been in a particular situation before. Your brain works undercover looking for any similar event which vaguely resembles what you’re about to do or are in the middle of. It looks for anything it can relate to this situation.

If there’s nothing your brain can relate to, it will send up signals, in the form of, “I haven’t done this before, can I do it now?” You start to question your ability to handle it. You doubt yourself.

It’s a protection mechanism. When nothing familiar is found, the warning signals start. It could be your heart racing, the hair standing up on your arms, or maybe you start to sweat a little.

It’s a way to keep you from moving forward and to keep you safe

Maybe the situation is not threatening at all, but your body responds as if it is.

Because you haven’t done it before, there’s nothing your brain can go back to and help you maneuver through it. It lets you know you’re in new territory by sending out those chemicals and you feel the uneasiness, fear, maybe your brain stimulates the fight-or-flight response.

Your body doesn’t want you to move forward, and your brain doesn’t want you to move forward. You have a mutiny on your hands, all of it happening inside of you.

Your whole being wants you to go back to what it knows. Which is commonly referred to as your comfort zone. If you’re in your comfort zone, it’s all familiar. Your brain has experienced it all before. Everything in side of you is calm and cool with what’s happening.

Your brain, in general, does not want to try new things. For the majority of the people, daily activity is more than enough.

Doubt comes from the unknown. Doubt can also lead to stress, anxiety, and fear.

The other major source of doubt is built in

Doubt which you were raised to believe. Doubt which is more controlling and insidious in your life. Doubt you heard from your parents, your teachers, and maybe even your friends.

This doubt causes you to fight doing something different, keeps you from taking any risk, prevents you from growing as a person.

Maybe the doubt came from hearing, “you’re no good at that,” or “you’ll never be able to figure that out” or “ha, look at you, thinking you’re so much better.” This doubt comes in many forms and words.

You took on this doubt, just like you were supposed to. Maybe you’ve even heard, “it runs in the family.” That one's a killer. If it runs in the family, you will probably get it.

It could even be that you tried and failed to achieve a goal. Then decided not to do it again. The seed of doubt grew in you.

Just remember, you don’t have to believe it. Just because it was said doesn’t make it true. It doesn’t matter who said it or how many times it was said.

The fact that you tried, thinking you’d probably fail, means there’s hope.

There was something inside you which said you had to try.

Keep trying and trying. Fight the doubt. Take on a mantra to counter the doubt. Here’s one you may have heard:

If someone else has done it, so can you.

The easiest way to beat doubt is action. Prove to yourself you can do it.

If you stop, you let doubt win. Even if you’re unsure, do it, take action, get up and prove you’re capable. Not just capable, but fantastic at it.

Each action is another step toward pushing doubt out of your life. With each step, you realize you can accomplish a task, overcome an adverse situation, and reach the goals you’ve put off due to doubt.

Doubt can be helpful if it triggers you to review a situation. Discover what you could do differently. Help you set a new path forward.

The doubt you don’t want is the kind which stops you from ever taking the action.

You decide

What would happen if you chose to move forward, blasting through your doubt? The absolute worst? Try it and find out.

The doubt is usually the worst. Once you take action, you’ll often find everything turned out just fine.

There is nothing worse than saying, “I should have…”

Make the choice to listen to the forward thinking voice, the action taking words, the positive motivating feelings and crush the doubt.

Choose to believe you can succeed at whatever task your facing. The words you tell yourself are more important than the words someone else says in overcoming doubt.

Is there a story on happiness, motivation, or change you’re interested in. Let me know in the comments or email me at: [email protected]