Hello everyone. I’m Karen McGee, an RTT Hypnotherapist that specializes in helping ADHD adults break free from overwhelm, procrastination, and financial stress—so they can feel in control of their time, money, and life.
Join me as I take on the challenge, to completely eradicate self-doubt and empower myself like never before. Self-doubt is like a toxic cloud that follows you everywhere, casting a shadow over your potential and growth. It's like that nagging voice in your head that says you're not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough. Let's be real, it's hard to shake it off but here's the thing; when we let self-doubt win, we sacrifice our empowerment, our confidence, and our ability to live our best lives. I think this is especially tough for women as we socialize differently. We're socialized to be people pleasers, to put others first, and to apologize for taking up space. As a result, we often struggle to assert ourselves, take credit for our accomplishments, and to own our worth. We're conditioned to be humbled, to be modest, and to downplay our strengths. This is when self-doubt creeps in and It tells us we're not worthy, we're not deserving, and we're not enough. It's like we're constantly comparing ourselves to others, trying to fit into this unrealistic mode of what it means to be feminine, to be beautiful, to be successful. We're told that we need to be thin, but not too thin. We need to be smart, but not too smart. We need to be nurturing, but not too nurturing and in the midst of all of this contradictory messaging; we start to doubt ourselves, and we start to wonder if we're good enough, if we're doing enough, and if we're worthy of love and respect. This is when self-doubt takes hold. It makes us question our abilities, our choices, and our very identity. We internalize these beliefs to see ourselves as flawed, as imperfect, as unworthy. We start to think that we're the only ones who feel this way, that everyone else has got their lives together, and that we're just pretending to be competent.
However, here's the thing, everyone struggles with self-doubt. I don't care who you are. Everyone struggles with it! Everyone has moments of uncertainty, fear, and insecurity, It's time we all start talking about it.
What are some of the sources of self-doubt? Well, comparison is a big one. We compare our lives to others, to their highlights, the reels on social media, and to their seemingly perfect relationships. We compare our bodies, our careers, and our achievements. Of course, we also come up short, right? we're not perfect, so we think that if we just had one thing, that one success, that one achievement, then we'd be worthy.
The truth is, comparison is a loser's game. There will always be someone who is better, seems smarter, or more successful. And that's when self-doubt takes hold. It tells us we're not good enough, no matter how hard we try. Another source of self-doubt is fear and fear of failure. We're afraid to take risks, to try new things, to step outside of ourselves and our comfort zone. We are afraid of rejection, criticism, and of looking foolish. Therefore, we play it safe. We stick with what we know, with what's comfortable, and with what's familiar. The truth is, failure is not the only part of growth. It's a necessary part of growth. Every successful person has failed at some point. Every innovator, every entrepreneur, every leader has taken risks and faced rejection, and that's when self-doubt takes hold. It tells us we're not brave enough, we're not strong enough, and we're not worthy of trying.
Then there's negative self-talk, we're our own worst critics. We're mean, we're harsh, and we're brutal. We tell ourselves we're stupid, we're ugly, and we're unworthy. We magnify our flaws, minimize our strengths, predict our failures, and that's when self-doubt takes hold. It tells us we're not good enough, no matter how hard we try.
But here's the thing, we have the power to change the narrative. We really do! We have the power to reframe our thoughts, to practice self-compassion, and to focus on our strengths. We have the power to stop comparing ourselves to others and to start comparing ourselves to who we were yesterday. We have the power to take risks, to face our fears, and to try new things. This is when empowerment takes hold, It tells us we're worthy, we're deserving, and we're enough.
How do you overcome self-doubt? The first step is to acknowledge it. The second step is to understand where it's coming from. The third step is to reframe our thoughts, practice self-compassion, and too focus on our strengths. It's not easy, it's not quick, it's not simple, but it's worth it. It's worth it to live a life that's authentic, that's confident, and that's empowered.
In conclusion, self-doubt is a real challenge that we face, but it's not impossible to overcome. We just need to be willing to do the work, to face our fears, and to reframe our thoughts. This is when empowerment takes hold, It tells us we're worthy, we're deserving, and we're enough. If you struggle with self-doubt, I want to hear from you, share your story, share your struggles, and share your triumphs.
