Have you ever watched a baby learn to walk?
A baby gets up, wobbles, and falls down again. He will try countless times to get back up, wobble some more, take one step, and fall down again. The baby fails countless times. Now imagine that after these failed attempts, the baby just decides that this whole walking thing just isn’t for him, so he decides to never try again. Of course, this doesn’t actually happen with babies, but it sure does with adults. We are so quick to allow self-doubt to creep in and stop us from moving forward with pursuing our dreams. Â
The process of learning and growing is always a tough one, but we do it with ease when we are children. That’s because a baby does not yet have the awareness that he is doing something different or out of the ordinary. He doesn’t care who is watching him. He doesn’t care what people think of him. He doesn’t care who is judging him or counting the number of times he has fallen down. All he is focused on is his mission: learning how to walk.
So as adults, why do we allow self-doubt to stop us from pursuing our dreams?
Fear of Judgment
A lot of times we get caught up in what other people think of us. Has this ever happened to you? Maybe you were scared to drop out of college because it might be looked down upon by others. This fear keeps us in our comfort zone. The truth is, people might not understand you fully. However, by stopping yourself from pursuing what you want, you are robbing yourself of the chance to live authentically. So, face the fear of judgment and conquer those doubts.
Fear of Failure
Our doubtful thoughts often cause us to give up before we even try because we are scared of failing. Have you ever had a business idea, project, or a new relationship that you wanted to give a try, but you were too scared of failing so you never began? Nor trying keeps us safe from having to deal with failure. The problem, however, is that by not trying we are automatically failing. Try to look at failure as part of your journey to success. Failure is simply experience and can be an invaluable teacher if we allow ourselves to experience it.
When Self-Doubt Can Be Valuable
At times, self-criticism can be a valuable asset that helps you stay on your toes and keeps your feet on your ground. Some constructive criticism can be very beneficial in fostering growth. If you think you are perfect, there is no reason to improve, which results in stagnation and settling.
When Self-Doubt Overpowers You
However, there is a point when self-doubt can take over and overpower the helpful nature of some self-criticism. This is when these thoughts stop you from progressing. If you let yourself reach this stage, you lose control over your destiny, your efforts and eventually, your outcome.
It’s important to realize that taking control or having complete influence over the outcome of your life is impossible. However, having control over your efforts, whether it is learning something new or starting a project, is more based on your mindset and confidence. Whether you believe you will fail or succeed, you are right.
Remember, doubting yourself at times is totally normal. But letting it stop you from becoming the best version of yourself or achieving your dreams is a choice. When those thoughts consume your mind, think back to yourself as a baby learning to walk. Dare to try new things and have the courage to fail. Have the strength to get up again and to keep going anyway.
