Dealing with Self Doubt

Whenever you set to do something (big or small), do you sometimes hear a voice from within you doubting the correctness of your action? If your answer is no, it means either you are not being truthful or you have some psychological abnormality. If your answer is yes, then you are in good company, sharing the experience of all normal, thinking human beings including geniuses and people with an extraordinary sense of determination. The reality is that there is (was) not a single person on earth who has (had) not experienced doubt when pursuing a particular course. In fact, language has even glorified this trait by coining the phrase ‘healthy skepticism!’ to refer to self-doubt (as also to doubts about ideas coming from outside)

As thinking creatures, human beings have embodied within us a little critic whose only job is to be skeptical about every thought that strikes the mind either from within or from without. People who either ignore this little genie or put him (her) to sleep often act gullible and end up losing something precious. So, next time when you hear your little genius interrupting your thought process with an ‘I object’ response, like a lawyer putting up a dramatic performance in a court, don’t be put out or get irritated. . 

It is in your powers to convert your self doubt into a conversation you will have with a well wishing friend of yours about something you seek to do. While your friend will point to the weaknesses, pitfalls and the risks in the path being chosen by you, you will come out with answers clarifying your friend’s doubts. In the end, either you will have convinced your friend or will have changed your mind, seeing the reason behind your friend’s arguments.

The best way to deal with your self doubt is to take note of it, examine it and convince yourself about the rightness of what you plan to do.Give a minute to examine the doubt. Consider what the basis of the objection is. If it is  habitual cynicism, dismiss it. If it has some substance, examine it on its merits. If you are not able to find the right answers to the questions raised by the Doubting Thomas in you, then the wise thing is to change your decision. 

If you can train yourself doing this, you will find self doubt not a hindrance but a valuable tool in decision making.