Self-doubt isn’t rare — it’s practically built into being human. Everyone deals with it, from students to CEOs. It can act as a protective instinct in risky situations, but most of the time, it’s just background noise that holds you back. And when left unchecked, it quietly sabotages your confidence, your goals and your quality of life.
If you’re stuck, procrastinating, second-guessing or constantly looking over your shoulder, you’re not weak. You’re in a pattern that most people never break. But you can. The real danger of self-doubt isn’t the emotion itself — it’s letting it decide what you do and who you become.
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
You don’t need to silence every fear to move forward. You just need to stop giving it the steering wheel.
Here’s how to shift gears and start showing up for your life with confidence, clarity and courage.
1. See Self-Doubt for What It Is
Self-doubt only has the power you give it. It’s a thought, not a command. Feeling uncertain doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. It just means your mind is doing what it’s used to doing — trying to keep you safe.
But “safe” often means stuck. Think of self-doubt like a fire alarm that goes off even when there’s no smoke. It’s loud, disruptive and exhausting. Once you recognize that it’s just noise — not danger — you can start ignoring the alarm and taking action anyway.
2. Treat Action as the Antidote
Waiting for confidence before you act is a losing game. Confidence isn’t the fuel; it’s the result. If you want to shut self-doubt down, stop overthinking and start doing.
Start with one uncomfortable step:
- Submit the application
- Share the work
- Pitch the idea
- Hit send
Every small move chips away at doubt’s influence. The more you act, the more evidence you build that self-doubt is unreliable. And evidence beats emotion.
3. Know That No One’s Watching That Closely
One of the biggest lies self-doubt tells you is that everyone else is judging you. They’re not. Most people are too wrapped up in their own worries to notice what you’re doing — let alone critique it.
Once you realize this, the pressure eases. The fear of judgment loses its sting. You’re not being watched. You’re being imagined.
Live like no one’s paying that much attention — because they aren’t.
4. Get Comfortable With Progress Over Perfection
Self-doubt thrives on unrealistic standards. It convinces you that unless you’re flawless, you’re not enough. That kind of thinking kills momentum.
Shift your focus to progress. Look for small wins:
- Completing a project you started
- Asking for help when you normally wouldn’t
- Saying yes to something new
These wins compound. They boost your mood, your motivation and your belief in what’s possible. Stack them up, and you’ll start to rewrite your internal narrative.
5. Build Optimism Like a Skill
Optimism isn’t wishful thinking — it’s a choice. It’s choosing to believe that things can go well, even when you don’t have proof yet. And it’s one of the strongest counters to self-doubt.
Train your brain to expect good outcomes:
- Visualize success before taking action
- Reflect on past wins, no matter how small
- Affirm your ability to adapt and learn
Optimism doesn’t guarantee a perfect result — but it gives you the energy to try, and that’s what matters most.
6. Make Self-Acceptance Your Baseline
Self-doubt often masks a deeper issue: rejection of yourself. You tell yourself you’re not good enough, smart enough, attractive enough, capable enough. But when you start to accept who you are today — without conditions — you strip doubt of its favourite weapon.
You don’t need to be “fixed.” You need to be honest about your strengths, own your flaws without shame and stop defining yourself by past mistakes or outside comparisons.
Self-acceptance isn’t laziness. It’s the foundation for real growth.
7. Respect the Effort, Not Just the Outcome
When you only validate yourself based on results, you stay in a loop of performance anxiety and fear. But when you start respecting the effort, you create emotional freedom.
Showing up, trying and staying consistent — even when you fail — is success in practice.
Treat effort like currency. It’s what builds skill, trust in yourself and resilience. Eventually, results follow. But the effort comes first — and it deserves your respect.
8. Stack Confidence by Facing Fear
Each time you move through self-doubt and act anyway, you build mental muscle. Confidence isn’t something you wake up with. It’s something you earn by proving to yourself, over and over, that you can do hard things.
Start with one fear:
- Say what you think in a meeting
- Try something you normally avoid
- Apply for something you feel unqualified for
The moment you do, doubt gets weaker. Courage compounds. You build a history of bravery, and that history becomes identity.
9. Stop Waiting for Perfect Conditions
Self-doubt will always have a reason to wait:
- “Now’s not the right time.”
- “I’m not ready yet.”
- “I need more experience.”
But here’s the truth: there’s no such thing as “ready.” Growth happens in motion, not in preparation. You don’t need perfect conditions. You need to get moving.
Start with what you have. Build as you go. You’ll figure it out faster than you think.
10. Decide Who You Want to Be
This is about more than self-help. This is about your life. Your relationships. Your goals. Your fulfillment. Self-doubt dims everything.
You get to decide who you want to be: the person who hesitates, or the one who steps forward despite the fear. The one who dreams or the one who executes.
Make the choice on purpose. Make it often.
Self-doubt isn’t the enemy — it’s just a signal. One you can override with action, awareness, and self-trust. You have what it takes. You always have. It’s time to start living like it.
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 Eric Soubeyrand on Unsplash
