A Doubtful Day Doesn't Mean Your Dream is Wrong
As a Life Mastery Certified Coach®, Susan integrates spirituality with practicality, guiding women to discover their unique Soul Goal™ and chart a personal path to success and happiness. Unlock your inner wisdom, align your heart with your mind, and uncover actionable steps that resonate with your authentic self.
There are many days when we start to doubt ourselves. On a good day, everything feels possible. Our dreams seem within reach. We feel confident in our abilities, excited about what's ahead, and maybe even a little unstoppable. Then there are those days. The days when the clouds roll in and suddenly that dream that seemed so exciting yesterday feels completely unrealistic. Who do you think you are to dream that big? What makes you think you can really have what you want? Are you sure you're capable of doing this?
Sound familiar? Self-doubt has a funny way of showing up just when we're beginning to believe in ourselves. It can take one little uncertainty and turn it into a whole conversation about why we shouldn't try. But here's something I want you to remember: a doubtful day doesn't mean your dream is wrong. It simply means you're having a doubtful day.
You don't have to throw away your dreams because you're temporarily questioning yourself. You don't have to make major decisions from a place of fear. Sometimes you simply need to pause, clear away the clouds, and reconnect with the woman who believed the dream was possible in the first place. Here are three quick exercises to help you do just that.
1. Remember who you are
When self-doubt takes over, we have a tendency to forget everything we've already accomplished. We suddenly focus on what we can't do instead of remembering everything we've figured out along the way.
Think about it. You've faced challenges before. You've learned new things. You've made difficult decisions. You've started over. You've taken chances. You've made mistakes and kept going. That person is still you.
Action step: Take five minutes and write down three things you've accomplished that you once weren't sure you could do. They don't have to be major accomplishments. Maybe you navigated a difficult transition, learned something new, started a business, changed direction, spoke up for yourself, or simply kept going when things were tough.
Read your list whenever self-doubt starts whispering, "Who do you think you are?" You know exactly who you are. You're a person who has done hard things before.
2. Change the question
Sometimes it's not the situation that's holding us back. It's the questions we're asking ourselves. "What if I fail?" "What if people don't like it?" "What if I'm not good enough?" Those questions naturally lead your mind toward fear.
So let's ask better questions. Instead of "What if I can't do this?" try, "What if I can?" Instead of "Who am I to dream this big?" try, "Why not me?" Instead of "What if it doesn't work?" ask, "What could happen if it does?"
Action step: Catch one negative question today and turn it around. Write down the new question and spend a few minutes imagining the possibilities.
You don't have to convince yourself that everything will work out perfectly. You're simply giving possibility a seat at the table alongside fear.
3. Take one small step toward your dream
When we're overwhelmed by self-doubt, we often think we need to figure everything out before we can move forward. You don't. You just need to take the next step.
Maybe your dream is starting something new. Maybe it's changing careers, growing your business, writing the book, making the move, having the conversation, or finally pursuing something you've been putting off. You don't have to know every step between where you are and where you want to go. You just need to know what you can do next.
Action step: Ask yourself, "What is one thing I can do today that moves me closer to my goal?" Make the phone call. Send the email. Do the research. Write the first paragraph. Make the appointment. Tell someone you trust about your idea.
One small action can change your energy dramatically. Instead of sitting in "I don't know if I can," you'll be moving into "I'm doing it." Sometimes action is exactly what self-doubt needs to lose its grip.
The wise woman says
We all have days when we question ourselves. That's part of being human. But here's the important part: don't confuse a temporary feeling with a permanent truth.
Just because you're having a day when you don't believe in yourself doesn't mean you aren't capable. The dream that felt possible yesterday hasn't suddenly disappeared. Your abilities haven't vanished. Your potential hasn't changed. You've simply got some clouds overhead.
So remember who you are. Change the questions you're asking. Then take one small step forward.
Most importantly, remember this: you have an amazing ability to achieve what you set your mind to. Don't let one cloudy day convince you otherwise. The sun is still there. Always believe in yourself.
Read more from Susan F. Moody
Susan F. Moody, Intuitive Business, Life, and Success Coach
Susan F. Moody, Wise Woman, is dedicated to empowering women to tap into their own inner wisdom and discover the power of intentional living. Along her personal journey, Susan became a wisdom seeker looking for ways to connect with the divine for inspiration and guidance. She started working with the I Ching, angel cards, wisdom cards, runes, and pendulum work over 20 years ago and now offers these spiritual insight tools as an option to her clients. She has also developed a tangible technique, the Soul Goal™ finder, to help clients answer the contemplative question “Why am I here?”
