Have you ever felt insecure within yourself? This feeling may prevent you from achieving your goals and dreams. This sensation is known as self-doubt — and it can strike many people, kids like you included. This is what we call self-doubt, which is how you think about yourself or your abilities in a negative manner. It can make you feel trapped, that you can’t move forward in life, and it can be so annoying.
At such times, when you have a bout of self-doubt, it is common to think such things like, "I can’t do this", or "I am not good enough. You start to think, " These are sad or scary thoughts, and I don't want to do the things I've enjoyed. It’s common for people to feel this way — even those who feel very confident. You are NOT alone in feeling this way!
To overcome self-doubt, you must first address the negative thoughts contributing to them. This tends to be what you are taught from bad things that have happened or by someone else. They cause us to take a hard look at who we are and what we are capable of doing. Once you discover these negative thoughts, you can work on flipping them to the positive ones.
For instance, if you tell yourself, “I’m not good at sports,” you can instead say to yourself, “I am a great athlete, and I can succeed in whatever sport I play. It’s like when you turn that frown upside down! If you get rid of negatives thoughts for positives, you will feel comfortable in yourself and what you can achieve.
It is very important to have self-belief to succeed in life. Many successful people — for example, athletes and artists — have also occasionally experienced self-doubt. This means that self-doubt is normal and everyone deals with it, even successful people. The key is to recognize these negative thoughts and question them. As well, rather than believing every single thought that enters your mind, focus on the things you love and enjoy and what you've already accomplished in your life.
Hang out with your cheerleaders, like friends and family. They can remind you of your strengths. You may also visualize yourself performing exceptionally well in a task or activity. This is called visualization, which is a great tool. PREVOI imagine scoring a goal in football or a great presentation in school.
Whenever self-doubt tries to sneak its way in again, take a few deep breaths and center yourself in the moment. You could try sitting quietly, closing your eyes and thinking of something that makes you happy. That can make you feel less tense and more able to face your challenges. Mindfulness can also increase your overall well-being and reduce your stress and anxiety, which makes it a great tool to counter self-doubt.
