Self-doubt can be debilitating, and when left to fester, it can seep into every decision a person makes. Some people don’t care what others think of them, but others take things more personally.

It can start as something small, perhaps you feel judged by a co-worker over an idea you shared. These self-doubts can start small in the workplace, build, and spill over into your personal life.

Everyone has self-doubt. It’s part of life. But it’s when you can’t deal with self-doubt, or when self-doubt starts controlling your life that you might want to seek help.

In order to overcome self-doubt, keep track of your feelings. Be aware when you feel the fear or the self-doubt coming on, take a few deep breaths, and then act in spite of the self-doubt. When you write down when the feelings come on, you can keep track of what triggers the self-doubt. You can also keep track of how you are able to overcome the fear and self-doubt.

It’s important to nurture yourself. Self-doubt can worsen if you aren’t taking care of yourself: eat right, take time to exercise, and make sure you get enough sleep. If self-doubt is creeping into your work, make sure to take time off to do something you enjoy or something you excel at to help keep your mind off of work.

Another healthy habit to get into is to stop caring what everyone else thinks of you. Of course, this is often easier said than done, but it is something everyone should actively try to do. It matters what your partner and close friends think of you, but does it really matter what all your co-workers think of you? If you’re too busy worrying what everyone thinks of you, you won’t get far. Worrying about what others think of you will hold you back from doing things for yourself.

Surround yourself with people who support you: positive friends, family members, and co-workers who know your capabilities. If your self-doubt is causing depression or gets in the way of your desire to do your job, it might be time to see a therapist.

If you have any questions about this blog post, please don’t hesitate to comment or reach out. To set up an appointment to see Reka, you can reach her at 402-881-8125. You can also email her at reka@omaha-counseling.com, or connect with her via Twitter or Facebook.


photo credit: Walt Stoneburner via photopin cc