One of the hardest things that some people ever do is overcome their self-doubt and start believing in themselves. If you are living with self-doubt know that it is within your power to change to a self-assured person who believes in yourself and has the ability to change your life and possibly others for the better.
5 Ways Self -Doubt Can Affect Your Life
Self-doubt can cause procrastination and perfectionism. You put off doing things because you don’t think you have the ability to do them or do them properly. You may become a perfectionist because you fear what people will say or think about you if you don’t do things well or perfectly.
Self-doubt can lead to a loss of motivation because of your lack of trust and belief in yourself. If you doubt you can do something or fear you will muck it up or get it all wrong then you won’t try.
Self-doubt can cause you to become a defeatist. If you continue to lack motivation you won’t try to do anything because “what’s the point I’ll only fail again and confirm everyone’s opinion of me including myself”.
Self-doubt stifles inspiration because you don’t believe in yourself or your abilities you won’t try anything new. You won’t create anything new because any ideas you have will be silenced by the belief that you haven’t the ability or nous to create it.
Finally, self-doubt will have you believe that you can’t change your life and this is the way it will always be. You may have been told since childhood or by a lover or boss that you are dumb, stupid or that you will never amount to anything. But this is only the opinion of an emotionally abusive person and has no basis in fact. Use some of the strategies below to help you begin to believe in yourself and overcome your self-doubt. A better life awaits you.
5 Reasons to Believe in Yourself
You deserve to have a happy, full and successful life that you enjoy. This is a right for everyone including you! You deserve to feel good about yourself and to rid yourself of self-doubt. There will be challenges along the way but you have the strength within to overcome them. If you doubt this cedarwood can help. (See below)
You deserve to have loving, supportive relationships. Do you have at least one of these in your life? It may be a friend or family member. Be really truthful with yourself. Don’t allow your negative self-beliefs to tell you that no one cares. If you really look, you’ll find at least one person does.
Focus on what you have right this moment that is good and that is a reason to believe in yourself, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
Focus on your past successes no matter how small. Think how you felt about your accomplishments at the time. Congratulate yourself again about that success and know deep within yourself that you are capable of succeeding again no matter what anyone else says. Look each day for any small or large accomplishments each day. You tried something and failed. It’s still a success because you tried. You’ll do better next time.
Remember that you are just as good as everyone else and deserve the life that you want to live. It’s your life and no one else’s. You have the right to determine what makes it successful. Don’t allow self-doubt to stop you living the life you really want to live.
5 Ways to Overcome Negative Thoughts
Turn a negative situation into a positive one by focusing on what you have learned from it. Even if all you learn is that you don’t want to do that again, that’s a positive thing.
Remember most people don’t have the time or energy to think about your actions good or bad, especially if they don’t affect them. You can spend endless hours going over something you think you did wrong only to find no one cares and they have moved on.
Replace the negativity in your life whether that be people, places or things. For example, if someone continually reminds you of all the dumb things you have done in your life, then it is time to find someone who will support you in moving forward. Although it may be impossible to completely remove someone from your life you can choose to spend way less time with them.
When you are doing something different or challenging fear may be behind the negativity you are feeling. Remember fear is a defense mechanism to protect you from perceived harm. Know you’ve got this and don’t allow fear to hold you back from succeeding.
If you can’t decide between 2 or 3 choices ask yourself whether it’s going to matter tomorrow, next week or even next year. If the answer is no just make a choice and get on with your life. If yes spend a little more time thinking about it or talk over your choices with a trusted friend or relative and then make a decision knowing you have made the best choice with the information you have at present.
7. Strategies for Dealing with Self-Doubt
Don’t compare yourself to others. This can only lead to a loss of confidence and self-doubt or jealousy if they have what you perceive to be a better life than you. You don’t know if it is all a façade and they are deeply in debt or what they have given up to get where they are.
Have gratitude for all your experiences and try to see the best in every situation. Be thankful for all the positive people and experiences you now have in your life that are helping you to overcome your self-doubt and low self-esteem. Thank yourself for everything you are doing to increase your confidence in yourself.
Start setting small goals that allow you to experience immediate success. This maybe something like greeting your colleagues at work rather than going to your desk and saying nothing unrelated to your work all day.
Respect any obstacles placed in your path. Look at them as a means of strengthening your inner resilience. Gain what you can from the experience and then move on.
Be honest in accessing where your strengths and weaknesses lie. When you have self-doubt and low self-esteem issues you tend to focus on your weaknesses. Take the time to list your strengths. You have them! If you truly can’t think of any strengths ask a trusted friend to name one or two that you have. Focus on those strengths and use them as a way to build up your self-confidence.
Surround yourself with positive people and experiences that make you feel good about yourself.
There are times in life where you try something and you need to walk away and move on because it’s causing you an inordinate amount of stress or it’s making you ill or you just can’t get it to work. This is not a failure but a lesson we must all learn on when to stay and make it work and when to leave because it will never work. This applies to all aspects of life, work, relationships and business.
8 Essential Oils to Help Overcome Self-Doubt
Basil Sweet (Ocimum basilicum) helps you to express yourself positively and is useful in cases of low self-esteem and self-worth. She helps neutralize emotional and spiritual attacks directed at you.
Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) gives you the courage stand firm in the face of crisis.
Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) is a balancing oil useful for anxiety and panic attacks. Overachievers and perfectionists who worry about the outcome or not being good enough can benefit from this oil.
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) helps you with your high expectations of yourself and others and the feelings of guilt, frustration and blame surrounding them when they are not met. If you comfort eat grapefruit can be helpful. Maybe mildly phototoxic so best not to use on skin exposed to the sun.
Juniper (Juniperus communis) helps with fear of failure, gives support in challenging situations and strengthens will-power.
Marjoram Sweet (Organum marjorana) calms the mind when thoughts are going round and round in circles. She offers a sense of self nurturing especially when you think that nobody cares.
Pine (Pinus sylvestris) instils positivity and helps to restore self-confidence.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) instils courage and self-confidence and strengthens your resolve to overcome obstacles.
You can combine 2 or 3 oils from above in a personal inhaler to use when you need help overcoming your self-doubt. You can also make a massage blend or a perfume using the above.
For more information on blending click here
You can also use affirmations and or crystals with your essential oil blend.
