Doubt starts as a teeny tiny seed of thought that can turn into a BIG derailment on our paths- but it doesn’t have to be that way.
We shared some of our experiences with doubt in Truthy Tuesday this week, along with you awesome readers, so for this week’s video we wanted to explore an alternative way to look at doubt- a way that lets your doubt become not an adversary, but an opportunity…
Doubt can open the door that helps you learn more about yourself, find alternative ways of doing something, or push yourself farther than you ever thought you could.
We like to shift perspectives around here, and recognizing that there’s also a healthier side to doubt, other than the plummet over the cliff into fear, anxiety and stuckness- makes it feel not so scary to confront anymore.
Watch our Maven Chat below about the healthier side of doubt with a cool analogy to help you see your doubt differently:
What do you think?
Can you see the healthier side to doubt?
Can you think of a time when your doubt has actually been helpful to you? In terms of having you re-assess things, or make a necessary, but difficult change?
Has your doubt ever spurred you to push yourself beyond your comfort zone, just to spite it?
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
hey, mavens! i like your videos! what a cute dog!
i’ve been experiencing doubt about the intelligence of quitting a good job with great pay and security in a field ive been in for 20 years and making a change…with no real plan other than my heart and spirit telling me to spread my wings. i am choosing the grassy knoll side of the skinny doubt road though, and am looking to the future with hope and positive energy!
*i quit my job yesterday. wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
* this is one of the 50 positive comments on your post! ;)
Awesome Jenn, good luck with everything! What a big change you’re making! I left the comfort of a job/benefits/security to work for myself in 2007 and haven’t looked back since! Keep that positive energy flowing and no doubt, you’ll make your dreams come true. -jena
Hi you girls! Yes, doubt. What IS is about that one small thing that gets to us and taps into some dark, muddy self doubt. I always felt like it was because the negative thing/occurrence/comment was the ‘actual’ truth because we react to it SO strongly. Perhaps its about practising detachment as if you are outside the negative thing that’s occurred? But that is so hard to master. But what a great skill if we could huh? Confidence is ‘everything’ – not arrogance but a self awareness and confidence in yourself. I recently come to this. Its that simple; confidence in who you are. I am learning to back myself up, even if I make mistakes. Instead of react to bad stuff.
This is a bit of a ramble because I’m doing it quick running out the door; hope it makes sense. Want to try and catch up on all the truthy Tuesdays as well. You gals are great, keep doing it.
Jo
Jo! Yes, that detachment thing! It is so helpful if we can just get out of our own perspective a bit and see where/why that negativity is coming from- most often, it has nothing to do with us!
I think you’re right in saying confidence is key & to back our own selves up- we seem to be much better at beating ourselves up! Here’s to changing that way of thinking, little by little. -jena
Wow! You girls are the cutest and sooo very funny too :) I love how you presented your video without any doubts…you just went for it, and you both shone like the sun!
For years, I let doubt consume my thoughts. I was constantly doubting myself..telling myself I wasn’t good enough, wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t worthy enough, and so on. For who though? What a way to live, right!?
I started telling myself that I am good enough. Feeding myself with positive affirmations and attracting good things in my life because of it. I’d been missing out on so much.
Life is so much better.
“When in doubt…shout it out!” REAL LOUD!! LOL <3
Aw, thanks so much Maria for your kind words! You’re right our doubt can cause us to miss out on so much- good for you for figuring out the positive changes you need in your life, and thanks for sharing with us! -jena
Hey gals!
I really enjoyed the video! I have been down that skinny path too, and fallen right off the edge into the pit. It sucked big time!
I’m really self critical, and when something goes wrong I always blame myself and then the self-doubting starts. Much of my problem has to do with my past- my Dad was sooo critical of me as a kid. It’s crazy how that stuff becomes a part of you, and affects how you relate to the world.
Anyhow, I’m getting better, much better! I’m working with people who are loving and accepting and appreciate me, which is helping me to love, accept and appreciate myself. I have learned that it’s important to show people (including yourself) patience and understanding in order to help them grow and learn! What a gift! Whoohoo!
Doubt is tricky, but we all need to cut ourselves some slack. We are wonderful human beings, we make mistakes, we have weaknesses and that’s OK! Maybe we should be critical of our criticisms- consider weather or not they are useful. If they are use em! If they’re not, forget em! …Now to put this into practice..huh the real challenge!
Thanks Jen and Jena! (I LOVED the “blooper” stuff at the end!)
Alyssa,
We totally understand! Thanks for sharing your story – so many of us struggle with self-doubt. Learning how to live with the sticky widget, known as doubt takes time and it sounds like you’re on the path! Thanks for your kind words too! – Jen