How to Crush Fear and Self-Doubt

2025-04-25 ~ adminlife

Fear and self-doubt are two of the most common — and most paralyzing — obstacles to personal growth. They can keep you stuck in comfort zones, talking yourself out of opportunities and living far below your potential. But here’s the truth: fear and doubt aren’t fixed traits. They’re patterns. And patterns can be broken.

If you want to build confidence, take risks and reach your goals, you have to stop letting fear and self-doubt call the shots. This article gives you a straightforward, actionable path to doing just that.

Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.

It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.

I have a program that can help you to discover what is holding you back from achieving your goals as well as help you set an attainable goal related to where you are in your life and where you are trying to be.

This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.

You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.

You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com

Visit the site and read through the program description.

If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance

Let’s break down ten powerful ways to overcome fear and self-doubt — and start living the life you’re actually capable of.

1. Start with Small Fears

Big changes begin with small steps. If fear runs your life, start by facing smaller fears — the things that just make you slightly uncomfortable.

It could be:

Speaking up in a meeting
Making a phone call you’ve been avoiding
Trying a new activity alone

The goal is to prove to yourself, over and over, that you can do hard things — even in small doses. As you do, your confidence builds. That confidence becomes fuel to tackle bigger challenges.

Progress tip: Stack small wins. The more often you prove to yourself that you’re capable, the more natural courage becomes.

2. Find the Root of Your Self-Doubt

Self-doubt isn’t random. It’s learned — often early in life. Maybe someone criticized you. Maybe you failed once and internalized the outcome. Maybe you just never had enough encouragement.

But is the source of your doubt credible? Is it true now?

Question the origin. Ask:

Where did this belief come from?
Is this based on fact or fear?
What evidence do I have that contradicts it?

Often, you’ll realize your self-doubt is outdated or flat-out wrong.

3. Stay in the Present Moment

Most fear comes from thinking about what might happen. We project worst-case scenarios and spiral into anxiety.

The solution? Stay present.

Right now, you’re okay. Right now, you’re safe. When your mind starts to drift into imagined disasters, gently bring it back.

Tools that help:

Deep breathing
Meditation
Focusing on your senses

The more you practice staying in the moment, the less power fear has over you.

4. Ask: What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

Fear thrives in uncertainty. But once you name your fear, it loses steam.

Ask yourself:

What’s the worst that could realistically happen?
Could I handle it?
Could I recover from it?

Chances are, the “worst” isn’t actually life-ending — it’s just uncomfortable. And you’ve survived discomfort before.

Bonus tip: Make a simple plan for what you’d do if that worst-case happened. It’s easier to face something you feel ready for.

5. Use Your Breath to Reset

When you feel anxious or full of doubt, your body responds first. Your heart races. Your breath shortens. Your body shifts into fight-or-flight mode.

But breathing is your reset button.

Slow, deep breaths calm your nervous system. Try box breathing: inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4.

This isn’t fluff — it’s biology. Your body leads your mind. Calm your body, and your thoughts follow.

6. Stop Chasing Perfection

Perfectionism is fear in disguise. If you think everything has to be flawless, you’ll avoid taking action altogether.

Reality check: No one’s perfect. Success doesn’t require perfection — it requires persistence. Failing, learning and adjusting is how confidence is built.

Instead of trying to be perfect, aim to be realistic.

Mantra: Done is better than perfect.

7. Remember: Everyone Has Fear

You are not alone in this. Everyone — even the most confident-looking people — deals with fear and self-doubt. The only difference is how they respond to it.

Fear doesn’t disqualify you from success. In fact, learning to manage it gives you a serious edge over those who let it win.

Confidence isn’t about being fearless. It’s about moving forward even when you’re scared.

8. Act Like You’re Brave

Confidence isn’t just mental — it’s physical. When you carry yourself like someone who believes in themselves, your brain starts to follow.

Try it:

Stand tall
Breathe fully
Speak clearly
Move with purpose

This is more than pretending. It’s training your nervous system to feel calm and strong. The way you carry yourself tells your mind, “I’ve got this.”

9. Visualize Success

If you can see it, you can believe it. Visualization is a tool top performers use to condition their minds for success.

Close your eyes and imagine:

How success feels
What you’re doing
How you’re responding to challenges

The brain doesn’t fully distinguish between real and imagined experiences. The more you visualize success, the more comfortable you become with it — and the less room there is for fear.

10. Take Action, Even If It’s Messy

Nothing beats fear like action. You don’t have to feel ready. You don’t even have to feel confident. Just start.

Start messy. Start scared. Start unsure. But start.

Action creates momentum, and momentum creates confidence. Every time you act, fear gets a little weaker and you get a little stronger.

You Are Not Your Fear

Fear and self-doubt are normal. But they don’t have to run your life.

You’re capable of more than you think — and it’s time to prove it to yourself. Use these strategies to build your confidence step by step, and start choosing progress over perfection, action over anxiety, and courage over comfort.

You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to be brave enough to take the next step.

To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.

Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.

Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program. If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance

P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching

P.P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.

P.P.P.P.S. I have posted a series of articles on the “Fear of Success” at Confidence and Life Coaching. You can also request a free PDF of all 4-articles by sending me an email message at michael@coachmichaelw.com

Photo by Ilse Orsel on Unsplash

Break Free from Fear and Thrive

2025-04-19 ~ adminlife

Fear is part of every person’s journey. Whether you’re starting a business, entering a relationship or making a major life decision, fear tags along. But the difference between those who struggle and those who succeed isn’t about eliminating fear — it’s about taking action in spite of it.

Before you can start to plan your success goals, there are many things that you need to understand before you can be sure that the goals you set are really the ones you want.

One of those things is to determine if there are any Limiting Beliefs that can stop you from actually achieving those goals.

I have a self-study Limiting Belief Program that you can go through to determine what your Limiting Beliefs are and how you can remove them.

You can read more and register for the program at Limiting Beliefs Program on my Confidence and Life Coaching website.

Start your journey on your path to success by identifying and removing your Limiting Beliefs so that you make the journey a lot easier.

You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.

The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address) Limiting Beliefs Download

Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.

If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program

Success is not a straight line. It’s messy, uncertain, and full of moments where your confidence is tested. But what sets high achievers apart is that they act, repeatedly, even when they’re afraid. This post outlines how to face fear directly, take meaningful action and build confidence by doing the hard things.

1. Decide That You Will Succeed

Success begins with a decision — a real one. Not “I’ll try this and see what happens,” but “I will succeed no matter what.” The Latin root of “decide” means “to cut off.” When you decide to succeed, you cut off all other possibilities — including failure, excuses and fear-based hesitation.

This kind of mental commitment makes fear irrelevant. Fear thrives on uncertainty. When there’s no room for negotiation, fear has nowhere to hide. Your decision becomes your anchor.

2. Face Risk, Don’t Avoid It

Most people back away when things feel risky. But successful people run toward risk because they understand this truth: everything you want is on the other side of fear.

Pick up the phone and make the uncomfortable call. Send the pitch. Raise your hand. Speak your truth. Risk isn’t something to be feared — it’s a sign you’re growing. And if something scares you, it probably matters.

You don’t need to be reckless. You need to be bold.

3. Prepare for What You Can

Fear often shows up in the form of worry — especially about things we suspect could go wrong. Instead of letting that turn into paralysis, use it as fuel. If you anticipate challenges, prepare for them.

Build your skillset. Create backup plans. Talk to people who’ve done it before. Do the mental rehearsal. The more prepared you are, the less room fear has to run the show.

Preparedness builds confidence, and confidence reduces fear.

4. Live in the Moment

Fear lives in the future — in the “what ifs” that haven’t even happened yet. When you live in the present, you take away fear’s power.

Stop reliving mistakes. Stop pre-living disasters. Be where your feet are. The present moment is manageable. Fear thrives in imagination, not reality.

Let go of resistance and focus on what you can do right now. Action is grounded in presence. Anxiety is rooted in the unknown.

5. Expect Good Outcomes

Most people brace for the worst. They picture everything going wrong before they even start. But that mindset guarantees hesitation.

Flip it.

Start expecting things to work out. Visualize success. Think through the best-case scenario. Sure, obstacles might appear — but you can deal with them. If you’re expecting the worst, you’ll freeze. If you’re expecting success, you’ll act.

Mindset sets the tone for performance.

6. Use Your Breath to Stay Calm

When fear takes over, the first thing to change is your body. Your breath becomes shallow. Your muscles tense. Your heart rate spikes.

You can’t always control your emotions, but you can control your breathing — and your breath influences your entire nervous system.

Slow, deep breaths signal safety to your brain. Breathe in for a count of four, hold for four, out for four. Repeat. This small habit can keep you grounded in high-stress moments.

7. Disengage from Negativity

Your environment affects your mindset. If you’re constantly exposed to negativity — especially through the news, social media or toxic people — fear becomes your baseline.

You don’t need to be uninformed. But doom-scrolling and dwelling in negativity won’t help you grow. Choose experiences that build you up. Play music. Get outside. Try something new. Learn something just for fun.

Confidence grows when your days are filled with meaningful, uplifting activity.

8. Know That You Are Enough

This one is simple but powerful: You are enough.

Even if you don’t have all the answers or experience yet, that doesn’t mean you’re not capable. Confidence doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from progress.

Work with what you’ve got, right now. Then build from there. Every successful person started with limited knowledge. But they believed they could figure it out — and they did. So can you.

9. Start Small, Build Fast

You don’t need to conquer your biggest fear today. You just need to take the first small step.

Make a list of the tasks you’ve been avoiding — from least intimidating to most. Then do the easiest one. Once it’s done, do the next. Momentum creates confidence.

Break your fear down into manageable pieces. Focus only on the step in front of you. By the time you reach the scarier items, you’ll already be stronger.

Fear Doesn’t Get to Win

Fear doesn’t have to disappear for you to succeed. It just has to take the passenger seat. You can be scared and still act. You can be uncertain and still move forward.

That’s how freedom works — not by waiting for fear to leave, but by moving forward anyway. Action is the cure. Decide to win. Chase risk. Prepare wisely. Expect the best. Stay grounded. And most of all — never forget that you are more capable than your fear wants you to believe.

To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.

Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.

Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching

P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.

P.P.P.S. You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.

The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address) Limiting Beliefs Download

Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.

P.P.P.P.S. If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program

Photo by Cristi Ursea on Unsplash

Are You Truly Ready to Change?

2025-04-18 ~ adminlife

Change sounds exciting. A better life. New possibilities. More confidence. But the hard truth is that many people say they want change while subconsciously doing everything they can to stay exactly where they are.

They buy the courses. They build the website. They dream about starting fresh. But when it’s time to actually begin, fear rushes in like a flood, and suddenly there’s a reason to delay — again.

Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.

It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.

This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.

You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.

You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com

Visit the site and read through the program description.

This isn’t laziness. It’s fear in disguise. And until it’s addressed, change will always remain just out of reach.

The Illusion of Wanting Change

On the surface, it looks like you’re working toward your goals. You might be:

Researching endlessly
Investing in tools or coaching
Planning out every detail

But when the moment to act comes — when you need to hit “publish,” schedule the meeting or show up for the first real step — something stops you.

That something is fear.

The Real Reason You’re Not Changing

Fear is a master of disguise. It doesn’t always scream. Often, it whispers:

What if you fail?
What if you succeed, and can’t handle it?
What will people think of you?

This internal resistance can be stronger than any external challenge. The mind chooses safety — even if safety is miserable — over the unknown. It tricks you into staying put.

And so the cycle continues: you plan, get excited, then stall. Again and again.

This creates frustration, guilt and shame — which only deepens the pattern. Over time, it wears down your self-esteem and convinces you you’re not cut out for more.

But that’s a lie. And it’s time to break the cycle.

Recognize the Signs

If this sounds like your life, you’re not alone. Many people live mostly in their heads — dreaming, doubting and stalling while looking “busy.” They’re surrounded by friends but feel isolated. They feel stuck, not because they lack potential, but because they’re afraid of what stepping into that potential might mean.

Recognizing this is step one. The next step? Doing something that fear can’t fight.

The Breakthrough: Stop Focusing on Yourself

Here’s the shift: focus less on what you want to change for you, and more on how your actions can impact others.

One of the fastest ways to get out of your own head is to help someone else. Volunteer. Support a cause. Mentor someone. Do anything that requires your energy, attention and follow-through — for the benefit of someone who needs you.

Why does this work?

Because when people depend on you, you show up.

Helping others pulls you out of the loop of self-criticism and into purposeful action. It boosts your self-worth not by thinking better thoughts — but by proving to yourself that you make a difference.

Purpose > Perfection

When you work for someone else’s benefit, perfection fades into the background. What matters is showing up. Following through. Being present. Taking action.

As you do this, your anxiety lowers and your confidence grows. You’re not overthinking. You’re doing. And with every helpful action, your fear shrinks, your self-esteem rises, and you gain momentum.

Over time, this becomes your new normal: showing up, taking action and making an impact.

Discovering Fulfillment Through Action

Here’s the most powerful part: once you begin to act — consistently — for the good of others, you start feeling something you may not have felt in a long time.

Fulfillment.

Helping others fills a part of your spirit that nothing else can. It makes your work matter. It gives meaning to your skills. And when you realize your actions are creating real change in real lives, the anxiety, perfectionism and self-doubt that once ruled your life start to fall away.

You see yourself differently. You feel different. Because you are different.

Make a Decision — Then Follow Through

Change happens when you decide to act. Not just once — but again and again.

Your path forward isn’t found in endless preparation. It’s found in doing. Even imperfectly.

Yes, you’ll make mistakes. Yes, you’ll have doubts. But mistakes can be fixed. Doubt can be challenged. What matters most is that you keep making decisions and taking steps.

Stuck is a choice. So is forward.

You Only Get One Life

This isn’t a rehearsal. You don’t get a second round. This is your life, and you deserve to live it with purpose, passion and confidence.

Waiting for the perfect moment means you’ll wait forever. Instead, decide now to start where you are. Use what you have. Focus on who you can help. And keep going.

Change won’t happen instantly. But if you act in spite of fear, consistently, your future will look very different — because you will be different.

Others Will Notice What You Don’t

Here’s a truth most people overlook: you won’t always see your own transformation. But others will.

People will tell you you seem stronger. Braver. More alive. More “you.”

That’s because helping others doesn’t just change their lives — it reveals your true self. The part of you that isn’t held back by fear. The part that’s been waiting to lead. The part that finally knows: you’re more than enough.

And when you live from that place, change isn’t hard. It’s natural.

To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.

Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.

Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching

Photo by Kiet Ho on Unsplash

Develop a Powerful Mindset for Growth and Success

2025-04-17 ~ adminlife

Your mindset determines how you perceive the world and respond to challenges. It shapes your thoughts, behaviours and outcomes. The way you think influences your self-perception, relationships and achievements. Understanding your mindset helps you recognize limiting beliefs and take steps to develop a more empowering way of thinking.