Internal conflict is a natural consequence of aiming at a higher purpose and it is keenly integrated in the process of closing the gap between who you are right now, and who you want to become. The all-too-critical voice in your head, constantly challenging you on your decisions and capabilities. This looming feeling of self-doubt pushes two harsh but important questions on us to consider:
Am I doing enough?
Am I doing the right thing
Any combination of these answers more often than not will reveal some really confronting realities. When you consider the realm of your self-actualisation (the most macro goal life pushes on you), day-to-day (the most micro increment) can be crippling when tangible results aren’t obvious or prominent. If the gap doesn’t seem to be closing we intuitively feel as though we are falling behind or wasting days.
The days where you convince yourself that you are not doing enough to make a difference, or that you’re not even doing the right thing at all, is par for the course. These feelings are a tax which must be paid, and can be the catalyst to your own growth and improvement.
If you even begin to consider the implications of a world where self-doubt doesn’t plague those aiming upwards, you will begin to find a very dangerous environment of unchecked egos and ideas that shouldn’t have made it out of the group chat. The opposite of this is equally as dangerous in that the fear and paralysis born from doubt can stop us from taking the very actions which would see us, and others, succeed.
Taking Action
If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced — Van Gogh
Argument for taking action:
Silencing doubt is achieved not by planning every possibility, but by seeing yourself improve
Taking action is the best way to improve
C. Silencing doubt is achieved by taking action
If closing the gap between where we are now, and where we want to be will be the catalyst in suppressing doubt, then it is absolutely necessary for us to find the courage to get out of bed every day and get after it.
If you remember only one thing, remember this:
Self-doubt is the unavoidable tax of pursuing anything meaningful
🎓 Tips
This Will Pass
Spiralling self-doubt can make us extremely emotional. It can cause us to make rash decisions about our purpose and direction. Some days, every fibre in my being cannot imagine why hat I’m doing matters, that it is crazy, stupid, poorly executed or completely pointless. However, without fail, the inkling to tear up from the ground everything that I considered meaningful would pass. Every time.
Critical Reflection
True reflection born from doubt is much more systematic, and much less emotional then a big spiral. Rooted in awareness, self-reflection can reveal the truth. The truth about what is working — and should be pursued — and what is not working — and should be pivoted from. It is for this reason it is so important to keep track of emotional and physical measures while taking action, so when the time comes for critical reflection, objective truth isn’t overcome by emotion.
Re-define Failure
Failure isn’t something to necessarily strive for, but it is seen in almost every case study worth its salt. Abraham Lincoln experienced 28 years of political and personal set-backs before being president. JK Rowling before her authoring success was at one point, jobless, a lone parent, and “as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless”. Redefining failure, and using it as an opportunity to grow can make the voice of self-doubt a less prominent consideration in pursuing a higher purpose.
When will your courage exceed doubt?
Just Something To Consider.
💭 Sources
Mick. (2023). 11 Effective Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt for Good. https://insideoutmastery.com/self-doubt/#how-to-overcome-self-doubt
Warrell, M. (2017). How to Beat Self-Doubt and Stop Selling Yourself Short. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2017/12/09/doubt-your-doubts/?sh=4d3a1b55151a