{"id":7641,"date":"2018-09-28T12:04:10","date_gmt":"2018-09-28T02:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.empoweringambitiouswomen.com\/?p=7641"},"modified":"2018-09-28T12:04:10","modified_gmt":"2018-09-28T02:04:10","slug":"self-doubt-cloud-get-out-of-the-shade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.empoweringambitiouswomen.com\/self-doubt-cloud-get-out-of-the-shade\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Doubt Cloud: Get Out of the Shade!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nIf you are under a self doubt cloud, it is time to get out of the shade.<\/h1>\n<\/blockquote>\n
I recently asked a women\u2019s group what topics related to empowerment they would find valuable to read. To my surprise \u201cself-doubt \/ lack of confidence\u201d were the two that came up the most. Why is it that us women think so low of ourselves? We often work so hard to then turn around and not be confident in our own abilities.<\/p>\n
I was brought up surrounded by boys, so to say I\u2019m a tomboy would be accurate. I was raised in an environment where there was no place for \u201csissy\u2019s or weaklings\u201d. I learnt to defend myself and stand up for what I believed in, almost as a matter of survival. Which is one of the reasons I think that self-doubt rarely plays a part in my professional career.<\/p>\n
If you were to describe me now I would say that I\u2019m a strong woman who is fearless in the pursuit of having what I deserve. There are many factors that have played out to define who I am today, but I know it\u2019s possible for women to develop more confidence and to tell that self-doubt voice to \u201cSIT DOWN\u201d!<\/p>\n
A lack of confidence in yourself can be caused by many things. A presentation that went bad, a job interview that you didn\u2019t land, a partner feeding you negative notions or perhaps a parent who put you down as a child\u2026 does any of that resonate with you? If it does, there are a few simple hacks you can master to snap yourself up from under the self-doubt cloud.<\/p>\n
Self confidence doesn\u2019t need to be broadcast<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Just because you are confident in yourself, doesn\u2019t mean that it needs to be paraded online. Sure, it\u2019s easy to do with the likes of social media and everyone on their phones, but it isn\u2019t necessary. I\u2019ve spoken to a number of women who often confuse the two. As in they \u201chave to\u201d share everything online because they are confident in their work. It\u2019s certainly a fine line, but if sharing online scares you or isn\u2019t who you are – then you can still be confident without doing it. Don\u2019t let that be fuel for your self-doubt.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve come this far<\/strong><\/h3>\n
A lot of people I know, women in particular, find themselves questioning how far they\u2019ve come in life. \u201cHave I done enough?\u201d, \u201cI wish I had become more than this by now\u201d<\/em> are two statements I hear often. My reply to both is much rather the same.<\/p>\n
You have come this far already, don\u2019t look back now. There are so many great things that you\u2019ve already achieved in the past, obstacles you\u2019ve overcome, relationships you\u2019ve made or removed and growth both personally and professionally. Surviving the bad times is an achievement too – don\u2019t fall into the trap of thinking they were just a negative experience, they\u2019ve helped you grow and move forward too. Something that I have on my wall is \u201cI didn\u2019t come this far, to just come this far\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n
You are not an imposter<\/strong><\/h3>\n
This is one that I used to struggle with when I received a promotion or something went amazingly well. I used to think – \u201cHow did I do that? Was it just luck?\u201d<\/em>. I\u2019ve since learned and accepted (which is the hardest part) that I am incredibly knowledgeable in my industry.<\/p>\n
When I talk about what I do, I know exactly what I\u2019m talking about. There is no ambiguity, no exaggeration and certainly no backtracking – I am an expert. It did take me a while to accept this, but when I did the self-doubt disappeared as I acknowledged that I did know what I was doing and I was good at it.<\/p>\n
If you find yourself nodding while reading this, then maybe that\u2019s how you\u2019ve felt too. Take a moment to sit back and look at all the amazing things that you\u2019ve done, all the people that have come to you for advice, all the years of training and upskilling. You are not an imposter, you are an expert.<\/p>\n
Practice self-care<\/strong><\/h3>\n
This is one I learnt while being a volunteer crisis phone supporter. Self-care is the absolute most crucial part of being able to perform well.<\/p>\n
Without looking after yourself, you will be unable to look after anyone else – and that goes for work, family and friends. You\u2019ve probably heard the saying \u201cyou can\u2019t pour from an empty cup\u201d and simply put – it\u2019s true. If self-doubt and a lack of confidence plagues you then perhaps it\u2019s time you take a time out. Reassess why you do what you do, why you love it, why you\u2019re good at it. This time and moments of reflection will allow you to reset and start again in a much better and positive frame of mind about yourself.<\/p>\n
If you think self-doubt and lack of confidence is exclusive to you – you\u2019re wrong. It is common and is a feeling experienced by almost everyone. It makes us normal human beings with a desire to improve, so don\u2019t put yourself down if you find yourself in this category. It is however, something that can be trained and managed.<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Believe in yourself, there are so many others that already do.<\/p>\n