I know what you are thinking!

We’ve all been spoon-fed the same stuff:
Be confident. Stay focused. Hustle hard. Never doubt yourself.

However, amidst all these feelings, we seem to ignore the most common emotion felt by each one of us at some point in our lives: Self-Doubt. 

Yes, research suggests that as many as 85% of people globally suffer from self-doubt!

It’s not just you – it’s all of us.

Me, your confident colleague, your boss and even that girl/boy you’ve got a crush on – everyone faces self-doubt.

Especially if you’re new to something – writing, building, creating, even just trying – self-doubt shows up like an uninvited guest who never misses a party.

Let me give you a personal one.

Imagine trying to make it as a writer today.

In a world with thousands of talented writers & plenty of amazing AI tools (that get the job done very well, my friend)

You’re scrolling through the internet, bumping into mind-blowing blogs, reading novels from authors who sound like they’ve swallowed a thesaurus.

If you are a writer, reading their work would certainly evoke self-doubt. 

‘Am I good enough?’

It’s certainly one of the most common feelings felt by all of us.

Self-doubt troubles your psyche, shakes your confidence, and makes you rethink everything you’re doing with your life.

Come to think of it, self-doubt isn’t necessarily restricted to professional lives. We encounter it in our day-to-day situations. 

Have you felt an attraction to a special someone, but feel stuck and unable to express yourself because you lack self-confidence and fear rejection?

Self-doubt is the reason many smart kids refrain from participating in classroom discussions & debates.

But we aren’t here to pull out the demons of self-doubt.

The title focuses on whether self-doubt is as bad as it sounds.

I am going to answer just that. 

But first, picture yourself in this situation:

You are confident, self-reliant and satisfied. 

You’re at the top of your field, you’re printing money, and your happiness knows no bounds. 

You have a loving girlfriend, a happy family and friends at your beck and call. 

Did this feed your ego yet?

The thing is, when you feel you are at the top, you might just stop trying – trying to improve yourself.

You will begin to feel above others, develop an attitude and might even step into the oceans of over-confidence. 

That’s when someone else, more grounded, hardworking, and potentially more deserving, would come in and swoop all your success into their court. 

Well, that….was a bummer!

Pangs of self-doubt, even just a small pinch, induce a fear, a much-needed fear to get your ass moving and improving yourself each and every day. 

And I know this piece might not be the best motivation you’ve ever read.

It might not even be worth your time.

But I still choose to write it, read it aloud, self-affirm myself, and improve myself every day.

Because I have a goal.

I want to be the very best. Like no one ever was (yes, I hope you know where it’s from)

A writer who’s able to stir emotion. Whose writing people love to read, reshare and even copy.

Here’s a famous statement for your benefit:

A little self-doubt never harms. It’s when this self-doubt replaces your confidence is when you hear the danger bells ringing in your mind. 

So, was I able to help you see such a negative aspect, like self-doubt, in a positive light?

Tell me in the comments and help me get rid of my pangs of self-doubt!

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See you in the next one!