Overcoming Self-Doubt: How to Push Past Mental Barriers and Achieve Your Goals
Overcoming self-doubt is an essential aspect of personal growth and development. It is a mental barrier that causes people to question their abilities and worth, leading to a lack of confidence and motivation. Self-doubt can be triggered by past failures, negative feedback, and comparing oneself to others. Self-doubt can be a small barrier or can manifest into a seriously negative mental head space. To overcome self-doubt, it is important to understand that everyone experiences it at some point in their lives. Even the most talented and confident of people experience self-doubt. You WILL experience it and ultimately how you react to it will be the game changer of who wins the fight between you and your self-doubt. I will tell you a recent personal struggle I dealt with fighting some self-doubt and I will discuss some simple steps I use daily to stay focus on the goals ahead and do my best to achieve them.
Stop the Negative Self-Talk
To overcome self-doubt, it's essential to recognize and challenge negative self-talk. This involves identifying the thoughts that are holding you back and replacing them with positive affirmations. Recently, my local Orange Theory Fitness gym had a competitive event called the “Dri Tri” which consisted of a 2,000 meter row, 300 reps of floor exercises and running a 5K. Just six months ago, I competed in the “Dri Tri Sprint” which is the same events but only half the distance and reps. After completion of the sprint, I bolted off of the treadmill to the exit to remove my breakfast from my stomach. When I was approached to compete in the full Dri Tri this past month, you can imagine all the negative self-talk I was having. I had barely finished half of the challenge just six months ago and now they were asking me to do double the work.
Initially, I said, “No chance I can do the full!” Honestly, I never thought I couldn’t finish the Dri Tri, I always knew I could do it if I really tried but I was much more worried about coming in last place or having to walk during the run part. I knew it was going to be painful but mostly I was scared of being embarrassed in front of my friends and other participants. I’m not much of a runner, actually I hate running and definitely am not a fan of running anything past a mile, so running a little over three miles just did not seem like something I wanted to try.
Instead of constantly telling myself that I was not good enough, I reminded myself of my strengths and all the recent progress I had made with my training. I told myself I was not going to compete with anyone else in the gym and I was only going to compete with myself. My friends also helped me with the positive vibes and encouraged me to compete and just try my best. They assured me I would be surprised by the outcome.
Practice positive self-talk,
“I am capable and will try my best” or “I will get better no matter what.” I used to think it was silly to believe self-talk could have any influence on my achievements. As I travel on my personal growth journey, I have noticed that my self-talk has a massive impact on my growth. Anytime I spotted a negative self-talk about competing in the Dri Tri, I immediately exchanged the thoughts with something positive, even it was only, “I will finish the event, even if I’m the last one.” I’ve noticed that negative self-talk takes a lot more time and effort than positive self-talk does. If you focus on having a positive conversation with yourself, you don’t dwell on the thoughts and you move forward working to achieve the goal. Enough of the negative self-talk will convince you it is not possible and at times keep you from even trying to achieve the goals you’ve set.
Interestingly enough, my self-talk has not only impacted my own life but has also influenced those around me. The way I talk to myself affects my mood, behaviors, and interactions with others. When I am positive and encouraging in my self-talk, I tend to radiate that positivity and motivate those around me. On the other hand, negative self-talk can bring down my energy and make others feel uneasy. It is important to recognize our potential impact on ourselves and those we interact with. Remember to surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you and will encourage your to pursue your goals and do your best.
Set Achievable Goals
Another effective strategy is to set achievable goals and celebrate small victories. Setting achievable goals is crucial for personal and professional growth. It allows individuals to have a clear direction and purpose, which helps in creating a roadmap towards success. Realistic goals also help in managing expectations and reducing stress levels by breaking down a larger task into smaller, manageable steps. By breaking down your larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks, you can build momentum and gain confidence. Setting achievable goals, you can improve your productivity, increase your focus, and ultimately achieve your desired outcomes.
As I signed up for the Dri Tri, I told myself my goal was simple, complete the event and do my best to not walk during the run part. My friends had goals of finishing under a certain amount of time or of placing in top tier of the competition, but I did not let their goals influence mine. They are in much better running shape and have been putting in a lot more training hours so it was expected they would easily achieve their goals.
Take Action
Take action: Instead of letting self-doubt hold you back, take action towards your goals. We can boost our self-confidence and prove to ourselves that we are capable of accomplishing remarkable feats. Even small steps can help build confidence. Whether it's starting a new project, learning a new skill, or pursuing a new career, taking action is the first step towards success. Even small steps can help us build momentum and gain confidence in our abilities. By breaking our goals down into manageable tasks and tackling them one by one, we can build our self-confidence and overcome the self-doubt that may have been holding us back.
Knowing I had a tough mountain to climb at the Dri-Tri, I began running longer distances. A few days prior to the even I ran a 5K by myself to prove to my brain that my body could run the distances needed to complete the Dri-Tri. I was able to complete the 5K at a faster pace and quicker time than I expected. It's important to remember that self-doubt is a natural part of the human experience, and everyone experiences it at some point in their lives. However, by taking action and pushing through our doubts and fears, we can achieve great things and build the life we've always wanted. So don't let self-doubt hold you back - take action today and start building the life you deserve. By taking action and building momentum, you can overcome self-doubt and achieve great things. So take that first step today and believe in yourself - you've got this!
Celebrate Progress
Celebrating your progress along the way can also help to boost your motivation and keep you focused on your goals. When I showed my brain my body could complete the run, I was motivated and actually excited to compete in the Dri-Tri event. More importantly, which is a hard step for many of us, I was proud of myself for the progress I had made.
Surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people is also crucial in overcoming self-doubt. Being around people who believe in your abilities and encourage you can provide the motivation and inspiration needed to push past mental barriers. On the day of the Dri-Tri, I had my friends and my new OTF family there rooting me on. Everyone was there to work hard and achieve their goals. Uniquely, every single person was also there to support the other. The atmosphere in the gym was on fire! Once the event started, I focused on staying in a positive mental head space. Any time I started to down if I could finish the event, I listened to the positive encouragement from the others in the gym which helped push me forward towards the finish line.
Conclusion
Remember, overcoming self-doubt takes time and effort, but it is worth it in the end. You have the ability to achieve great things, so don't let self-doubt hold you back. I was able to finish the Dri-Tri, I ran the entire time and I did not donate my breakfast this time! To say I was proud is an understatement. After completing the event, it boosted me into running more and more. Now I’m running two to three miles a day and I am actually looking forward to the runs. It is important to understand that achieving your goals is addicting and can spring you forward at lightening speed, that’s why you have to set goals and never give up!
I have so many people to thank for my recent achievement as well. The staff at my OTF gym have been a great help. If you are stuck or feel like you can’t achieve your goals seeking out a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and support can be incredibly beneficial.
In summary, overcoming self-doubt is a process that requires self-awareness, self-compassion, and a willingness to take action. By challenging negative self-talk, setting achievable goals, surrounding yourself with positive people, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and practicing self-care, you can push past mental barriers and achieve your goals.
Remember that overcoming self-doubt is not a linear process and it may take time and effort. However, with persistence and a commitment to your personal growth, you can overcome your mental barriers and achieve your goals. If you are stuck today, reach out to me and let me help you on your journey and most importantly LET’S GROW!
