3 Steps to Start Believing in Yourself
Believing in yourself is one of the best ways to build your confidence, but it’s a lot easier said than done. We are naturally wired to focus on our shortcomings and those pesky thoughts can stick around causing self-doubt and lack of confidence. So how can we begin to genuinely believe in ourselves and ultimately change our mindset?
Here are 3 steps to help you start believing in yourself now:
1. Train your brain to challenge your doubts
Challenging your doubts is the first step to believing in yourself. You may be rolling your eyes at this, but acknowledging negative thoughts and swapping them out for more positive thinking patterns can have a profound effect on your confidence. The brain naturally focuses on negativity so we have to be intentional about combatting this. It can be helpful to view your negative thoughts as an outside observer and refer to them in the third person. A thought diary is another powerful tool in recognizing your negative thought patterns. This can help to separate your feelings from facts and turn them into more useful and positive ways of thinking.
2. Track your accomplishments & failures
We often downplay our achievements so it’s really important to take note of your wins. Big or small, these reminders will boost your confidence and lead you on the right path to believing in yourself. It’s also beneficial to make note of your disappointments and failures. Write them down, digest them and then move on quickly. Think of these situations as opportunities to pivot and try something new. When you are in touch with both your accomplishments and missteps you realize that these experiences are part of your unique journey to building your confidence.
3. Share your strengths
It’s so important to identify your strengths and recognize what you do well. Everyone is good at something and it should be shared with the world. Once you have a firm understanding of your strengths, use your knowledge and share it with others. Not only are you doing good and helping those around you, you’re building your confidence and squashing those negative thoughts. Sharing your talents and passion for the work you’re doing is an excellent way to shine.
Self doubt can be quite paralyzing, but the good news is that you can make an effort to break the cycle and start believing in yourself. Begin with these 3 actionable techniques and see how your mindset shifts. Now’s the time to start believing in yourself!