Nothing is worse than going through this amazing adventure called “life” while questioning every decision you make and doubting your intuition, your inner voice, your skillset, and your value as a human being.
Like many of us, I have had a chronic struggle with self-doubt for years. I compare it to a dark shadow that followed me in my childhood and adolescence, all throughout my turbulent twenties—everywhere I went, in all my interpersonal relationships.
I was constantly missing wonderful opportunities out of fear of stepping out of my comfort zone, afraid that I would underperform or fail miserably at whatever task I was given, even though my higher self knew I was more than qualified and capable. This “dark phantom” had rented space in my head and was a persistent jerk—and that’s putting it nicely.
Trauma can either make or break you, and while I have been through my fair share of adversities, a part of me just wanted to retreat from the world and society because of the toxicity, betrayal, rejection, and harm I had experienced and witnessed throughout my life.
My eyes were haunted by pain and my ego made sure to remind me of my past suffering every time I had to make a decision that required stepping out of my comfort zone. While it was easier to retreat from the outside world and protect myself from fear-triggering situations, I couldn’t hide from the negative self-talk of my inner critic who imprisoned me in my mind.
I had the key to liberation, yet I could never free myself, paralyzed by the fear of the unknown. To put it simply, when you lack tools to tame your ego, you become a slave to fear, which goes hand in hand with the crippling thoughts of self-doubt.
In truth, the ego traps you in a mirrored labyrinth where all your fears manifest. Everywhere you turn, you are confronted by fear, and before you know it… you have lost yourself in that maze of morphing horrors.
Your higher self is aware that these fears are illusions, but your ego cannot make that distinction; it is always in a desperate state of self-preservation, so it convinces you to not take that risk, that leap of faith, or that opportunity for growth, because it constantly believes that any decision that causes discomfort is a threat to its existence. But this is a lie.
The only way out of that anxious psychic space of distorted thoughts is for you to arrive at the awareness that you are your own hero. You have everything inside of you to liberate yourself from all your fears. Self-doubt is rooted in fear, hence the emphasis.
How do you access your inner hero? By tapping into your higher self. Think of it like your higher mind: the voice of compassion, unconditional love, and courage.
Our higher self is already a Jedi Master when it comes to tricking the ego because it innerstands how the ego functions. When you allow your higher self to be the dominant voice in your mind, you achieve a liberating sense of empowerment as you face your fears and slay your demons one by one.
Self-doubt does nothing for your highest good; it only thrusts you into spiralling fear frequencies that disempower you from staying in the present moment and recognizing how amazingly capable you are.
If you find yourself lost in that maze of self-doubt, here are some tips to help you out of that mental purgatory. Never forget that it is a transient space, not permanent. You have the key to free yourself:
1. Don’t panic. Master your thoughts.
Meditate for 20 minutes and focus on breath work, releasing all your stress and fears, inviting love and light to fill your being.
2. Journal
Channel your higher self and let it speak on paper. Read it out loud in a soothing, comforting voice.
3. Don’t compare yourself to others
You have a unique soul print. Remember that your journey is entirely unique to you. If you grew up in an environment where you did not receive unconditional love, it is now time to re-parent yourself and give your inner child that love and reassurance it needs so your adult self can thrive.
4. Reach out for help
Surround yourself with supportive family and friends who will remind you of how amazing you are and that there is no need to keep feeding your precious energy to the illusory thoughts of self-doubt.
5. If you look to the past, make sure to access that folder of all your achievements
Always remember the moments where you succeeded at anything in life—big or small. Never downplay your achievements.
All your challenges have been for your soul’s growth, and you deserve to remind yourself of the praise and recognition you received in the past for any undertaking that challenged you.
When you lack faith in yourself and doubt your abilities, you poison the magical garden in your mind and destroy beautiful seeds of thought that can manifest your dreams. Your creative manifestations are suddenly replaced with toxic seeds of fear that should never take root and grow; it does not serve your highest good.
If this garden is an appropriate metaphor for the mind, then you can imagine the stark contrast when you juxtapose an “Edenic paradise” of wish fulfillment with a “poisoned garden of purgatory” all due to self-limiting beliefs.
It is okay to acknowledge our fears when we are doubting ourselves, but never stay in that frequency. Self-doubt robs you of happiness and should never be part of your identity. Practice self-love instead. Be your own hero, not the villain.
