With a week to go, I am continuing my 40-day challenge to reflect and release on things that have been hindering me along my path. Each day I continue to be focused on releasing the blockages and self imposed limitations as I seek to be freer to achieve my own resurrection by Easter Sunday.
My focus is now shifting to giving up self doubt, on this edition of “Becoming Today”.
Dear Rochelle,
You have come so far in this process. There have been many lessons learned, knowledge gained and revelations received. Still I know there are challenges.
No one,… well at least no one speaking the truth, who ever promised you a rose garden. So I know you understand that there are days that will have to be spent in the mud and covered in fertilizer as we seek to bloom where we are planted.
You have been so affirming in experience yet being human, those lingering thoughts of apprehension, mistrust and uncertainty do pop into your head.
Ignore them. We can’t force them away, but we can choose not to accept them.
Self-doubt is a thief that steals your dreams. It will keep you from taking the necessary risks towards achieving your goals and becoming who you are intended to be.
Give it up and believe in yourself!
I do not believe anyone seeks out self-doubt. Yet it is a common problem that does discriminate. It is an equal opportunity offender and will affect people of all ages and backgrounds.
When attempting to take hold of you , it becomes the fear of not being good enough, or of not being able to succeed. This can have a significant impact on your life. It can hold you back from pursuing your goals, make it difficult to take risks, and lead to anxiety and depression.
Allow me to present some options, some tips to aid you in giving up self-doubt:
- Identify the source of your self-doubt. What are you afraid of? What do you believe you’re not good at? Once you understand the source of your self-doubt, you can start to challenge it.
- Challenge your negative thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, challenge them. Ask yourself if they’re really true. Are you really not good enough? Are you really never going to be successful?
- Focus on your strengths. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, focus on your strengths. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing?
- Set realistic goals. If you set goals that are too difficult to achieve, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Instead, set goals that are realistic and achievable.
- Take action. The only way to overcome self-doubt is to take action. Don’t wait until you feel confident to do something. Just do it. And as you take action, you’ll start to build confidence and self-esteem.
Like so much of “becoming Today”, giving up self-doubt is not easy, but it is possible. By following these tips, you can start to overcome self-doubt and achieve your goals.
Here are some additional benefits you can receive by giving up self-doubt:
- Increased confidence. When you give up self-doubt, you start to believe in yourself more. This can lead to increased confidence in your abilities and your decisions.
- More motivation. When you’re not held back by self-doubt, you’re more likely to be motivated to take action. This can lead to greater success in your personal and professional life.
- Reduced stress. Self-doubt can be a major source of stress. When you give up self-doubt, you can reduce your stress levels and improve your overall well-being.
- Improved relationships. Self-doubt can also damage your relationships. When you give up self-doubt, you’re more likely to be open and honest with others. This can lead to stronger and more satisfying relationships.
I know right now you’re struggling with self-doubt, but please don’t give up. Releasing leads to overcoming which aids in building confidence, motivation, and self-esteem.
I wish you well in your challenge.
Love,
Rochelle
Throughout my process of writing these “Lenten Letters” something that has helped me immensely has been in realizing there has been a disconnect between my heart and mind in my understandings.
I have found it helpful to review old conversations, lessons, sources and teachings to reignite the belief in my heart that I do know what I am talking about and have been here, done this before.
So for all of us let me reintroduce my 8-step process for overcoming self-doubt:
- Identify the source of your self-doubt. What are you afraid of? What do you believe you’re not good at? Once you understand the source of your self-doubt, you can start to challenge it.
- Challenge your negative thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, challenge them. Ask yourself if they’re really true. Are you really not good enough? Are you really never going to be successful?
- Focus on your strengths. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, focus on your strengths. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing?
- Set realistic goals. If you set goals that are too difficult to achieve, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Instead, set goals that are realistic and achievable.
- Take action. The only way to overcome self-doubt is to take action. Don’t wait until you feel confident to do something. Just do it. And as you take action, you’ll start to build confidence and self-esteem.
- Be patient with yourself. Overcoming self-doubt takes time. Don’t expect to see results overnight. Just keep taking action and be patient with yourself.
- Get support. If you’re struggling to overcome self-doubt, it can be helpful to get support from friends, family, or a therapist. They can offer you encouragement and help you to stay on track.
- Don’t give up. Overcoming self-doubt is not easy, but it is possible. If you keep taking action and being patient with yourself, you will eventually overcome your self-doubt.
These letters and holding myself publicly accountable through them has indeed been helping me. The results may not be immediate but the seeds are planted and progress should be on track to bloom by Easter. To see a rebirth. My own resurrection. I feel I believe it and I am remaining unconditionally faithful.
I pray for each of you everyday and remain hopeful your steps are progressing well. Like all things in your life your participation is required and it is never too late to start. So I will continue to invite you to participate in your own Lenten Letters, in your own style.
Whether in a journal, a document, video diary or scribbled on the back of a receipt just select whatever form you feel most comfortable with. Plus just because I’ll be doing them daily, you don’t need to, just set your own standards and goals as for the frequency.
You could also opt to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section. Also if you’d like to raise questions or share in a less public manner, you can always send a message through our Contact page.
Think about it. Pray about it. Meditate on it. Consider it and then decide to have a blessed fun and safe weekend, before you join us come Monday on our next edition of “Becoming Today”.
Before we go, welcome to April. Yes no foolin’ a new month is here and that will bring another spotlight to our discussions.
While Resurrection Sunday is just a week for many, slightly later for other denominations our focus on this Easter Season will be celebrated all month long.
I have seen some other discussions that perhaps too often we are limiting people by not speaking and teaching about Jesus’ Resurrection enough. So this year we’ll focus in April as a month long celebration of the resurrection. Of course that begins now:
Becoming Today with Rochelle Jeanette 