Breaking From the Self-Doubt Chains and Awakening Your Self-Worth
- Brainz Magazine
- Apr 1
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 12
Written by Ranya AlHusaini, Mindset Transformation Guru
Ranya Alhusaini is a mindset transformation guru. Besides, she is a Hypnotherapist, Rapid Transformation Therapy Practitioner and NLP. Ranya dug her way through self-discovery, curiosity and knowledge.
Imagine walking into a room decorated with so much beauty that the designs fill the air with a wonderous flair. You drag yourself into a cornered mirror and look at your reflection, comparing your beauty with others. Your mind whispers, you are not. Your eyes then dart back to the mirror with shame and defeat. From that moment, self-doubt accompanies your travel, whispering to you again how much you are the unlike, calling you back to shame, diminishing your worth. A fainted roar breaks the silence reminding you that you are not. You stay confused, speaking to your mind.” Why you are not” your mind speaks back the reason, giving you back the record of reality, you thought you weren’t. How can I be worthy, when all the memories were tarnished within? You listen from afar; your mind cannot listen to conflict. You come out from the room with so many questions, and yet you find yourself in doubt of yourself. Probably, that’s how self-doubt can feel inside us, a chaos at constant play! In fact, self-doubt is often a false belief about yourself absorbed from someone else’s opinion, and you had to accept it as your truth because you thought you were helpless and hopeless in defending yourself.
In today’s article, we walk into the dark corners of self-doubt. We then step into tailoring small, meaningful, manageable steps toward shifting your mindset into moments of worth, curiosity, and possibility.
1. How to understand “self-doubt” moments and tackle them
The question here is, can we feel what we can’t see? Yes! Your subconscious mind's main role is to protect you and shield you from risk. Your subconscious mind is always alert, gathering as much data and information and collecting back experiences, labelling them according to categories of feelings. Self-doubt doesn’t arrive overnight. It starts as a whisper from an unfinished business, moments of hesitation, or a harsh opinion from an outsider. With time, those whispers turn into a continuous dialogue of negative narratives monotonously repeating its rhythm. The below four strategic actions empower your worth as navigating the depth of self-doubt:
Pinpointing the source of doubt
Investigate the depth of doubt. Is it a past failure, a childhood experience, or a strict evaluation from an outsider? Track those doubtful moments and listen deeply into the different voices which voice come to the forefront: is it a parent, a teacher, a friend, or a community
Challenging the repetitive cycle of lies you tell yourself
In reality, everything begins with a single thought. Self-doubt thoughts are borrowed from a past experience, anonymously producing ripples of bad taste memory and a recurring painful feeling. However, when things crumble massively inside your mind, face your negative thoughts with a counterproductive idea or reality. Here, you practice on repeat “how to catch yourself speaking negatively and replacing it with a productive, empowering version of you”. For example, if you seem to repeat, I am not capable, turn it into I have learned and grown before, and I am capable of doing it again
Elevating the curiosity level
Anchoring how you perceive the unknown territory with curiosity can fill your heart with excitement instead of anxiety. Fear and self-doubt often come from the uncertainty of what might happen if we take a risk, step outside our comfort zone, or try something new. The subconscious mind is wired for survival, where any uncertainty is considered as a threat. In here, any threat is triggering your subconscious mind to release stress hormones.
Deep questioning your doubtful moments like, what makes you doubt yourself?
What’s in the current scenario so doubtful? Do you recall something from the past of similar situation? What is your feeling when you start self-doubting yourself? What words come down your throat during self-doubtful moments? What if you pursue what you are doubting? What feelings you think you will experience? What is the image you had inside your mind? If you can state one word and one image you see on a constant basis replaying inside your mind, what can you say about self-doubt? Curiosity can shift your mindset from fearing the unknown to embracing the unexpected. How? Giving yourself the permission to learn through failure.
Anchoring fear with excitement
Curiosity shifts your mindset from "No possibility to change?" to "Embracing every challenge." Instead of shutting down due to fear, your brain starts seeking solutions, learning opportunities, and new perspectives. Guiding you in different manners how to step boldly into your next chapter with a sense of excitement and newness.
2. What is the root cause of self-doubt?
Self-doubt is a common experience that hinders personal growth and well-being. Its origins are multifaceted, rooted in psychological development, neurological processes, and social influences. Understanding these underlying factors is crucial for addressing and overcoming self-doubt. When we speak self-doubt we dive deeper into the depth of an early childhood’s experiences. As a child, you come into the life with an open arm and an excited jolly heart embracing every aspect of every day; however, listening to unexpected criticism spoken to you may cause your subconscious mind to internalize the shock from the criticism you’ve heard into feelings of inadequacy. For your subconscious mind is keeping tact of every experience you face your mind starting to label those experiences as “you are inadequate”. A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research highlights that adverse childhood experiences are associated with significant functional impairments and psychological distress later in life. The harsher the critical words spoken to the child, like “you are stupid”, “you are not good enough”, you are odd,” and “you always mess things up,” are registered meticulously by the subconscious mind under the label “you are inadequate”. Societal pressures and cultural norms also contribute to self-doubt that is reinforced by societal expectations, comparison, and adverse competition, leading to depression, anxiety, and self-doubt. In summary, self-doubt arises from a complex interplay of early experiences, brain function, and societal influences.
3. How and what you absorb from external criticism can build self-doubt?
When you absorb external criticism, be it from a parent, teacher, or even a casual comment from a friend, it leaves an imprint on your psyche. Listening consistently to “You’re not smart enough” by someone you admire can create a belief that you’re inherently “inadequate”. This limiting belief isn’t just a fleeting feeling; it's the rewiring of the brain that sets the stage for self-doubt in adulthood. Harsh remarks from teachers after a mistake can stick with you. Instead of learning from the error, the negative feedback becomes a fixed label, making you question your abilities in every future endeavour. Studies have shown that negative experiences during childhood can alter the way the brain processes emotions. The amygdala, the part responsible for handling fear and emotional responses, can become hyper-alert, always anticipating criticism, while the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate self-worth, might underperform. Self-doubt is a habit of thought and can be rewired with self-awareness.
4. How to overcome negative internal dialogue
When you commit to practicing small, gradual, consistent steps based on internalizing your repetitive stories, painful memories and awkward behaviour. At this stage, you are raising your awareness and inspecting the depth of your responses like: noting down the intensity of your responses, the backlash of your feedback, your repetitive behaviour, how do you suppress your emotions, what habits soothe down your triggers, and what is triggering an itch. Studying yourself can be maintained through the daily practiced habit of journaling. You are journaling every aspect of turmoil you might feel, failing to express or finding it hard to forget. With journaling, you keep a note of what you feel and when you feel it. and what is making you feel this way? The key is to recognize these harmful narratives as habits, not truth. Through a retroactive approach, you are gradually shifting your inner conversation from criticism to encouragement.
5. What makes you compare/compete and doubt your journey?
Psychologically, the brain is wired for social comparison as a survival instinct. Individuals who frequently compare themselves to others experience higher levels of anxiety and lower self-esteem. This happens because comparison shifts the focus outward, making us seek approval rather than owning a unique path. Your journey is unique. The more you anchor yourself in your own progress, values, and self-worth, the less power comparison holds over you. The key to breaking free is self-awareness, recognizing when comparison creeps in, and consciously choosing to realign with your own growth. True success isn’t about being ahead of others; it’s about becoming the best version of yesterday.
6. What does perfectionism is telling you through self-doubt?
Perfectionism often whispers through the voice of self-doubt, sending messages like, "You're not good enough," or "You'll never succeed." This internal dialogue stems from an unattainable desire for flawlessness, leading to a cycle of anxiety and diminished self-worth. Research indicates that perfectionism is linked to higher stress levels and decreased psychological well-being as individuals set unrealistically high standards and harshly criticize themselves for perceived shortcomings.
Moreover, perfectionism can hinder productivity by causing procrastination and poor time management, as the fear of failure leads individuals to avoid tasks they feel they cannot complete perfectly.
Understanding that perfectionism fuels self-doubt is the first step toward breaking this cycle. By acknowledging the unrealistic nature of perfectionistic standards and practicing self-compassion, individuals can begin to silence the critical inner voice and cultivate a healthier self-perception.
7. What are the five actions to break free from self-doubt to self-worth?
Through the below guided five steps, you smoothly journey into awareness, empowerment, and fulfilment:
Recognizing the root of your self-doubt: Whether it is a specific childhood incident, an underperformance, or a specific failure you couldn’t dismiss. Recognizing that can play an integral part in allowing you to challenge and reframe the limiting belief that is no longer serving you.
Cultivating self-compassion: Understanding that perfectionism is an illusion and that failure is part of progressing. Treating yourself with kindness and acknowledging your efforts can build more in your confidence.
Setting realistic goals and celebrating your victories: Achievable objectives can provide tangible evidence of your capabilities and reinforce self-assurance. Remember, progress is more meaningful than perfection.
Surrounding yourself with positive influences: Individuals who uplift and encourage you are cornerstones in progressing positively. Engaging with a supportive community fosters a sense of belonging and reinforces your self-worth.
Embracing continuous learning: Every experience, whether perceived as success or failure, offers valuable lessons. By viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, you shift from a mindset of self-doubt to one of empowerment and self-assurance.
Are you ready to break from the chains of Self-doubt?
Awakening your self-worth is a transformative process that begins with a single, intentional step. This step is taken only by you when you decide to commit and bear the consequences. You hop into a deep transformative journey of self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-love, and self-worth. I cordially invite you to reflect on the patterns that have held you back and consider the possibilities that await when you choose to believe in your inherent worth. Your journey is unique, and every step you take is a testament to your resilience and potential. Embrace this moment as the beginning of a new chapter, one where self-worth is the pillar toward peaceful living. Book your free discovery call now!
Ranya AlHusaini, Mindset Transformation Guru
This is Ranya AlHusaini, a mindset transformation guru. My mission is to motivate professional women to unlock their self-worth and live a balanced life. With so much curiosity and self-awareness, I have developed my way with strength and determination. My expertise was well maintained as I took years to understand and develop my own through different modalities, and from there I understood human's nature and reaction. The modalities I use and consult throughout the session are NLP, Rapid transformation Therapy technique, and Hypnosis. So, if you want a switch or a makeover in your life, hop in for a mindset transformation session! I have attached a photo of myself as well!
