5 Steps to Managing Self-Doubt
There I was, sitting in my yoga room, in front of my alter
meditating (well, trying to) and all that was coming up was
"failure." Not the word so much but the feeling of having failed when
in reality I had just begun.
That morning I launched my first online course, a project I had
been working on for almost two years. I felt great about it and excited to put
it out into the world but a funny thing happened once the first email went out
with my big announcement. I didn't just get nervous or anxious, I actually felt
like it was the end of the launch and no one signed up. This was only after an
hour of the email being out. Most people hadn't even read it yet and I had
myself completely pegged as having a product no one wanted.
I saw this immediately and identified it. I realized it was
ridiculous but still it persisted. It lasted for exactly three days and then it
went away. Once again I started feeling excited and confident about putting the
project out. What happened you ask? I used my tools. Over the last 12 years of
teaching yoga and facilitating trainings, I have been able to hone my tools of
consciousness. It is these tools I wish to share with you today. Some are
simple, some need to be practiced and some you are most likely already doing.
1. Breathe.
Yes, this is number one. Good news, you are already doing this.
However most of the time you are not breathing to your fullest potential. So
when you start to get in a tailspin where you begin to doubt and even criticize
yourself, start to breath more deeply. Let your body and your cells fill with
nourishment. This will begin to calm you down and when you are calm you are
more likely to put things into a clearer perspective.
2. Identify which form your self-doubt takes.
For me, self-doubt is more of a feeling, for others it's their
own words (like repeating the phrase "I'm so stupid" without thinking
of the affect it has on you) and for some it is the voice of someone else, like
a parent or a teacher that may have criticized you. When you can identify the
form that your doubt most often takes, you can catch it when it comes. So often
we are operating unconsciously and are unaware that our mind is running the
show. Once you see the self-doubt, you can watch it instead of allowing it to
take control.
3. Don't try to battle your self-doubt. Accept it.
No matter how confident a person is, no matter how many Oscars
or Olympic medals or rave reviews they have, they are still subject to
questioning their abilities from time to time. As long as we are identifying
with our egos, we are all subject to this doubt. The ego is the part of mind
that judges, compares, complains, needs to be right and loves conflict. It's
not bad but when the ego is left in control, there in lies the problem. We are
meant to run the show, not the other way around. As soon as we begin to see we
are operating from our ego, we begin to shift that power.
So when you are in the throws of a particularly nasty battle and
self-doubt is winning, take off the gloves and turn your palms up. If you keep
punching it will only get stronger, you will continue to feed it. Take a step
back, take another breath and let it be. Acceptance is the name is the name of
the game.
4. Voice it.
It can be easier to hold stuff in instead of putting it out
truthfully. Especially when it comes to feeling bad about ourselves. Or when we
do express ourselves, it's more about seeking validation to the person we are
spilling our guts to. This rarely works. Instead we need simple and clear
declaration to someone that can just listen. This is a powerful way to release
what you are feeling by empowering yourself with truth. Just be sure not to
over talk it. Make it clean and swift. Then move on.
5. Do something that empowers you.
The night my self doubt shifted I taught a particularly powerful
yoga class. We did a meditation that grounded us in our hearts and it helped me
as much as my students. For me, teaching is one of my power spots. When I teach
I am completely tapped in and I feel amazing. In order to move forward it helps
when we can stand in our own power. When we are overly worried about a problem
so much that it starts to consume us, we are giving our power away. That is why
when we panic and try to figure out a solution, the problem often gets
stronger. Instead flip the script and find your power. Whatever makes you feel
alive, accomplished, happy and badass. Do it with as much focus, love and
determination as you can. Self-doubt will not know what hit it and will
promptly take a backseat. Always remember, you are the driver.
Brittany Policastro
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brittany-policastro-/self-doubt_b_7120730.html?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003&ir=India
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