Journal Free from Doubting Yourself
Doubting yourself is a common issue faced by those of us who listen to their inner critic regularly. The nagging belief that you’re not good enough or that you can’t succeed is incredibly pervasive. It can become internalized and hold you back from many of your most desired goals. It’s a self-defeating belief that can even be used as a coping mechanism to keep you from trying the things that scare you. But did you know that with regular practice, you can develop a dialogue with a positive self voice and stop doubting yourself?
About Doubting Yourself
Self-doubt is a self-sabotaging and nagging voice inside your head that is repetitive and negative. While you may not hear actual words playing over and over again in your mind, you likely experience emotions related to the internal messages you are giving yourself. It’s possible, also, that others may have stoked your self-doubt. This can be a parent, spouse, teacher, or other close personal associate. When people send us signals, either out loud or through their actions, it’s easy to start to believe those messages. And it’s incredibly difficult to overcome the effects they have on you once you’ve internalized them and started doubting yourself.
How Doubting Yourself Feeds Your Inner Critic
Your inner critic doesn’t want you to succeed. It doesn’t even want you to try. Self-doubt is one of the most effective ways to convince you not to even try to achieve your goals. Doubting yourself erodes your self-confidence and convinces you to give up before you even begin. It keeps you from tuning into healthier and more positive messages you may prefer to give yourself. When you give into self-doubt, you’ll notice that damaging habits like procrastination and remaining within your comfort zone can set in. Self-doubt can easily fuel anxiety and stress. Neither of these states are healthy for fueling progress. Self-doubt sets you up to fail.
General Ways to Overcome Doubting Yourself
There are lots of ways to recognize self-doubt and kick it to the curb. First, notice when you find yourself making excuses for why you can’t do something or don’t want to pursue an opportunity. Ask yourself if there is a legitimate reason that’s holding you back or if it may be self-doubt trying to sabotage you. Look for patterns in the messages you’re telling yourself. If you see a recurring thing such as belief you’re not good enough or that you’re an imposter, chances are you simply need to push self-doubt aside and take on the challenge that faces you. Look for these repetitive messages or other things that may trigger you doubting yourself . When you can see these obstacles, you can overcome them. Finally, cut yourself some slack. This is especially important if you’re a perfectionist. The attempts you make don’t have to be perfect. What matters is that you try and that you take steps toward your goals. Be easy on yourself and be your own cheerleader. You can also recruit trusted friends to support you. Often, others believe in us more than we believe in ourselves.
Journaling and Self-Doubt
Recognizing your inner critic and the factors that contribute to its strength is important to defeating these negative influences that can hold you back. Emotions such as self-doubt are ingrained in us from a young age. Therefore, it can be really hard to notice them when they rear their ugly heads. One way to gain insight and recognition is through journaling.
Journaling is simply taking a set amount of quiet time to write down your thoughts. This can be with a pen and paper, in a word processing program, through an app, or any other type of electronic medium. You might want to have a fancy bound journal or a particular program to keep your journal in, but neither are necessary. This journaling can be free writing, in which you jot down any thoughts that come into your head. It can also follow specific prompts or exercises meant to provide specific insight. No matter what type of writing you do or how you record your thoughts, the point is to get them out of your head.
· The Benefits of Journaling
There are so many benefits of journaling, many of them contribute to gaining awareness and silencing your inner critic so you can stop doubting yourself. Journaling helps you to connect with mindfulness. You are able to be more present and to recognize the things you’re feeling in this moment, rather than dwelling on past experiences or beliefs. Writing in a journal can also improve your chances of reaching your goals. When you write things down, you begin to see patterns. Your goals become more concrete, rather than mere ideas with no destination. Journaling leads to greater self-knowledge because it allows you to explore your emotions. All of these benefits combine to create a strong arsenal for battling your inner critic.
· How to Journal
There’s no one way to journal correctly. The key is to find a routine that works for you and to do it consistently. Many enjoy journaling first thing in the morning as a way to begin their day on a good foot and to release pent-up thoughts. Another option is to do your journaling in the evening before bedtime. This provides a great way to process the day’s events and to prepare for a good night’s rest. Shooting for every day is probably a good goal, as it provides consistency and creates a habit.
Give journaling a try. You may find it helps you to tame that inner critic and to get to the roots of your negative internalized beliefs.
You may also be interested in our popular ebook, Hush Now – Quiet Your Inner Critic, and the accompanying Workbook available on Sale now in our Digital download section or in our YouTube Channel.
