The Sneaky One…

Have you ever had the idea of a lifetime… you know the one that gets you pumped… you jump right into project X to get this jumpstarted then out of nowhere BOOM…. something rocks the boat…you start to wonder “what am I doing… Can I do this… All initial turn on cylinders have started to malfunction and you are seriously wondering “Can I really do this?”

Ah, self-doubt. That annoying voice in your head saying, “Are you really cut out for that… 

News Flash from me to you…. Yes, you are. Self-doubt is that nagging little voice in your head whispering, “Are you sure you can do this?” It creeps in at the most inconvenient times, holding you back from reaching your full potential.

I have another hot off the press news flash for you… You are not alone… Self-doubt happens to everyone—even Beyoncé probably questions if her mic is on sometimes. But here’s the secret: self-doubt isn’t a permanent resident. It’s just a squatter you can evict.

In this blog, we’ll explore what self-doubt is, why it happens, dive into one of my personal experiences with the unwanted tenant & review practical strategies to evict  it so you can confidently step into your best self.

What is Self-Doubt?

Self-doubt is a lack of confidence in your abilities, decisions, or overall worth. It often manifests as hesitation, second-guessing, or even fear of failure. While a little self-doubt can encourage reflection and growth, too much can be paralyzing.

Why we doubt ourselves?

Self-doubt usually shows up because of:

• Fear of failure: “What if I mess up?” (Again spoiler alert: Everyone does.)
• Comparison overload: (Pssst)…Social media’s highlight reels aren’t real life 
• Perfectionism: Because anything less than 100% clearly means you’re doomed, right? (Ummm…Wrong!)

The Self-Doubt Hurdle

As I wrote this blog and pondered over my self-doubt experiences I am reminded of a period when  the unwanted tenant haunted me and almost swallowed me whole. A few years back I worked where I worked in a grocery store as the scan coordinator. ( Pause & shout out to all the scan coordinators: my heart truly  goes out to you because that is no easy job) In the retail world a  “scan coordinator” is the person that oversees the pricing unit for the entire store. Again, no small task…  The coordinator I was following was literally a scan coordinator wizard.  Literally The store was huge and the job was extremely fast paced with very high demands. 

Taking on this new position placed me in the delightful shoes to interact directly with the assistant store manager.  He was an older gentleman who held very high expectations on his staff and had been working with the scan wizard for years prior to my arrival.  After being in the position for a about two weeks I was sinking hard.  The demands were coming fast & hard.  The expectations to do the job as the wizard did was screaming at me.  Getting the team to their part, passing numerous audits, &  getting all materials up in a 24-48hr turnaround was grueling to me.  

Tips to Crush Self-Doubt

1. Talk Back to Your Inner Critic: Next time it whispers, “You can’t do this,” respond with, “Watch me.”
2. Take Baby Steps: Big goals? Break them down. Small wins build big confidence.
3. Surround Yourself With Hype People: Hang out with folks who cheer you on, not the ones who bring you down.
4. Laugh at Failure: If you trip, turn it into a dance move. Mistakes are lessons in disguise.
5. Focus on Strengths: List your wins. Even “got out of bed before 8 AM” counts!