20 Sep Time to Kick Self-Doubt to the Curb
Even the most successful business owners and entrepreneurs have to overcome those voices that tell them they “can’t” or that they “shouldn’t”. But, how you handle them when they inevitably happen will help set you apart from your competition. In some cases, that voice in your head may have some valuable insight that you do need to pause and consider. In other cases, you may need to override your feelings to keep moving forward to reach your goal. Here’s how to make the most of that nagging voice and channel it to drive sound business decisions.
Instead of ignoring, fighting or just giving up and accepting that voice that tells you to stop, I encourage you to acknowledge and engage.
Here’s what I mean…
Give your nagging voice a name. I call mine “Bob”. So, when Bob surfaces, I acknowledge “him”. I take a step back and reflect on what Bob is telling me, how I feel, and what may be making me feel that way. Believe it or not, that voice is an evolutionary tool that for millions of years is what kept us safe. It warned us to think twice and gave us that uneasy feeling when danger may have been lurking. But, today, self-doubt can be a productivity and success killer, if you let it. So, first acknowledge that voice and then engage with it.
Try to determine where that voice/feeling of self-doubt may be coming from. Perhaps you had a similar experience and that past sense of fear or failure is what is holding you back now. Or, maybe there is something in that nagging voice that should be listened to before you make a decision that could derail you from the right track. Either way, take time to reflect, regroup, and refocus.
Let me be very clear. There is a difference between telling yourself “I am lazy” and saying “I am being lazy”. The former is who you are the latter is describing a behavior. Of course, we may all feel a certain way one time or another, but that should not define who we are in all other circumstances. Be mindful of that voice, is it always telling you something negative about who you are? If it is, then it is time now to rechannel that energy into positive statements that will motivate you to execute.
If you feel like your mindset (or that nagging voice) is preventing you from reaching your peak performance, then contact me today. I’d be happy to set up an initial call with you to discuss what challenges you’re facing and specific ways I can help.
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