How to overcome self doubt?

You’re in the middle of a high-stakes moment. The adrenaline’s pumping, your mind sharp, and the finish line is in sight. Victory feels within reach—you can almost taste it. The sweet smell of success is so close, just a bold move away. But then, without warning, the dark clouds of self-doubt roll in. Suddenly, those whispers creep into your mind: You can’t do it. You’re not good enough. Who are you kidding? This ain’t your cup of tea. You’ll lose.

In seconds, the confidence you had begins to fade, and what felt like a sure win starts slipping away. Self-doubt has cast its shadow, leaving you paralyzed, robbing you of the triumph that was just at your fingertips.

But……

What if it didn’t have to end this way? What if, instead of letting self-doubt sabotage your success, you could face it head-on, overcome self doubt, and emerge stronger, more confident, and ready to claim your victory?

Overcome self doubt step by step…

The self doubts may not come always like I described above in the post. They may occur way before that. They may occur when you’re 1 month away from exams, in the middle of exams, after the exam. Basically, they can come to your mind in any way and form with the principle thought along the lines of “You lack…”. Self doubt is a natural mechanism of our human brain developed over evolution for our protection. Trust me, it’s so natural that it would actually be a case of serious medical/psychological attention if you don’t have doubts about yourself.

However, problems with self-doubt begin to arise when they keep you caged, when they become the shackles of your life, when they prevent you from taking risks, when they distort your perception of reality, and when they drown out your inner voice of confidence. They manifest as an overwhelming fear of failure, when they make you second-guess your abilities, when they lead you to compare yourself unfavorably to others, and when they convince you that you’re unworthy of success.

The key with self doubt is MODERATION. That’s why the title of this post isn’t “ending self doubt”. It’s “overcoming it”, using it, leveraging it to our needs. So without any further ado, let’s dive in to learn how we can overcome self doubt.

Acknowledging your doubts

This is the primal step of your quest to overcome self doubt. Make yourself aware about the fact you’re doubting and tell yourself with a deep breath that “IT’S OKAYY”. It’s natural to doubt yourself during times of difficulty or decision making. Now, hold onto your doubts and just for a moment realise that the source of your doubts has nothing to do with your reality but everything to do with the fear associated with the fear of failure/shame/rejection/criticism etc.

During this phase, you may hear additional whisperings saying “No, I’m not just fear, I’m your reality, you really don’t have it in you“

Just whisper back to that voice, “I may or may not have the ability to succeed, but that is something only time can reveal. Therefore, I will take the leap and try, as I only have the right to perform my prescribed duty, but am not entitled to the fruits of my actions“

Identify the Source

Now that you’ve acknowledged the existence of self doubt, focus on the origin of the doubt. Most of the self doubts can be traced back to fear of failure/shame/rejection/criticism/inadequacy/uncertainity. So just ask yourself, Why am I doubting myself right now? Is it because I’m afraid of failing? Do I fear what others will think of me if I don’t succeed? Am I worried about feeling embarrassed or inadequate?

By identifying which of these core fears is fueling your self-doubt, you bring clarity to the situation. Often, the fear itself is exaggerated, and recognizing this allows you to confront it head-on. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can address the fear rationally rather than letting it spiral out of control.

Understanding the root cause of your doubt is the first step to dismantling it. It shifts the focus from vague feelings of inadequacy to specific fears that can be challenged and overcome.

Challenge the fears

Self-doubt thrives on negative, irrational thoughts. It whispers things like, “You’re not good enough,” or “You’ll never succeed.”

But here’s the truth: these are just thoughts, not facts. Challenge them!

Start by asking yourself, Is this thought based on any real evidence? More often than not, self-doubt is based on fear, not reality. So try to remember and reflect on past achievements(not just materialistic achievements) where you’ve succeeded despite feeling doubt. If you managed then, what’s stopping you now?

When you challenge those negative thoughts, you begin to strip them of their power. The key here is to stop accepting these limiting beliefs at face value and question their validity. You’ll often find they have no real basis. And even if after much thought you arrive at the conclusion that “No, my fears are not fake, shit can happen”. Well in that case, listen to my next few words very carefully..

Submit your fears to a big Why?

At this point, you’ve stared your fears in the face. You know they exist, you know what they are. You’re over the small fears, but some real and big fears still linger. But now, it’s time to ask yourself a crucial question: Why are you doing this in the first place?

This is where you dig deep and tap into the core of your motivation. What’s the bigger reason behind your actions? What is the real driver pushing you forward despite the doubt? Your “Big Why” is the anchor that keeps you grounded when the waves of self-doubt try to knock you off course. It’s not just about achieving a goal—it’s about why that goal matters to you. Is it to create a better life for your family? To pursue a passion that fuels your soul? To prove to yourself that you’re capable of greatness?

When your fears start getting loud, submit them to this deeper purpose. Suddenly, that fear of failure seems small when compared to your burning desire to succeed. It doesn’t matter if things get hard, or if doubt creeps in—because you’re not just doing this for a momentary win. You’re doing it for something bigger, something that resonates deep within you.

Remind yourself of this why every time self-doubt strikes. When you reconnect with that purpose, your fears lose their grip. You’ll start to realize that the pain of inaction or the lingering regret down the road is far greater than the fear of failure/shame/rejection/criticism/inadequacy/uncertainity. Your purpose will drive you forward, even on the toughest days.

Take Action Despite the Doubt

Still feel that doubt hoding you back? Still feeling that I am not enough? Relax! Post is not over yet.

See, Self-doubt loves to hold you back by narrowing your mind on perfection. But here’s the truth: perfection is an illusion. Instead of waiting to feel fully confident or “perfectly ready”, take action anyway. Focus on growth, not on being flawless. Every step forward, no matter how small, helps you learn, adapt, and improve. The beauty of growth lies in embracing mistakes as part of the process. By shifting your focus to progress rather than perfection, you stop letting self-doubt control your path. You don’t need to have it all figured out—just move forward, grow from the experience, and watch your confidence rise along the way.

Set Realistic Goals and Embrace the Journey

Setting realistic goals is crucial in combating self-doubt. When your goals are attainable and broken down into manageable steps, you’re more likely to stay motivated and less likely to feel overwhelmed. Start by defining what success looks like for you and break it down into smaller, achievable milestones. Each small goal you accomplish fuels your confidence and creates a positive feedback loop.

But remember, while you’re working toward these goals, it’s just as important to embrace the journey. Progress isn’t always linear, and setbacks are part of the process. Celebrate each step forward, no matter how small, and acknowledge the effort you’re putting in. When you shift your focus from a distant end goal to the incremental progress you’re making, self-doubt loses its grip. By setting realistic goals and cherishing the journey, you cultivate resilience, allowing you to overcome self doubt with a stronger sense of purpose and self-belief.

Conclusion : Overcome self doubt

I will point out again, my post’s title is about overcoming self-doubt, not ending it. So, after all these points, what you should take away is that, firstly, self-doubts are a natural phenomenon of human existence. Secondly, they should only be given as much consideration and power over you as long as they don’t hide your inner engine, potential, or vision.

While I’ve provided a solid set of steps to help you counter self-doubt, I firmly believe in the saying Prevention is better than Cure—and here, prevention means eliminating the suffering caused by self-doubt, not self-doubt itself. The key to overcoming self-doubt lies in shifting your focus from the outcome to the action itself. Instead of getting overwhelmed by fear of failure or pressure to succeed, center your energy on the effort you put in. You are in control of your actions, but not the results. By letting go of the obsession with outcomes, you free yourself from the grip of self-doubt. This shift allows you to take bold steps with a clear mind, knowing that the real win is in the act of moving forward, regardless of the final result.

When you adopt this mindset, self-doubt loses its power to overwhelm you every time it arises. You don’t need to be completely free of fear to take action—fear is okay; regret is not. Each small step you take becomes a victory, and your confidence grows from the journey, not just the destination. Progress, not perfection, is what fuels lasting growth. Trust yourself, trust the process, and keep moving forward despite the doubts. That’s how you rise above and thrive.