Do you dream of starting a business? Or maybe you want to grow your existing business to epic proportions?
Too often, dreams stay just that – dreams. There are many reasons that businesses don’t get off the ground or don’t expand. Sometimes it’s insufficient cash flow or poor client development. But I’d like to take a moment to talk about an obstacle that’s all too common among women who own or aspire to own their own businesses.
Self-Doubt
Self-Doubt. You know what I’m talking about. It’s that little voice inside your head that whispers all of the reasons that you will not or cannot possibly be successful in whatever challenge you are taking on.
It starts inside your head. But, it is often fed by friends or family members who don’t understand your goals or why you may be taking a risk or trying something new.
These internal thoughts and external influences don’t necessarily mean you harm. Typically, their objective is to keep you “safe.” They are trying to protect you from failing, embarrassment or disappointment. But, while they’re doing that, they are also standing between you and your ability to move forward.
Two of the most common ways self-doubt emerges are as a perfectionist mindset and as a measuring stick mindset.
The Perfectionist Mindset
When you take on a perfectionist mindset, you will easily convince yourself that you should not try anything new because you will never be able to do it perfectly. Even if you do have the courage to get started, those thoughts of not being perfect will be constantly nagging at you, trying to convince you that what you are doing is not good enough.
The Measuring Stick Mindset
The measuring stick mindset can also allow self-doubt to control your decision making. This is when you find yourself constantly measuring your work and yourself against others. When you are in this zone, you feel like your work will never be as good as others who are doing what you are doing.
Does any of this sound familiar? Yes? So, what can you do?
Conquering Self-Doubt
The key to defeating self-doubt is awareness. You need to be able to recognize it when it emerges and cut it off before it interferes with your progress. Because self-doubt seems to have a direct, express route to our psyches, it may not be easy to conquer it on your own.
That’s where a personal coach or a supportive friend can help. Find someone who can help you recognize when self-doubt or poor self-confidence are getting in your way.
The next time you are facing an important goal and you feel yourself leaning away from it, that coach or trusted friend can help you recognize that the self-doubt you are feeling is unfounded. They can provide the support that you need to take a stand against the lies of self-doubt, help you own your individual awesomeness and give you the nudge you need to overcome whatever obstacle is in front of you.
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