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It can be so easy to let doubt overcome us.

After all, when we pursue our dreams and goals, we don’t want to fail.

Our dreams are visioins of the future that we hope to make a reality.

Our dreams are a big part of us: an essence of who we are.

Whether we want to lose weight, get that big promotion at work, or whatever else our heart desires, we all have big dreams and goals that keeps us motivated to become something bigger and better than who we are now. 

After all, that is personal development.  

So, we try to stay positive and stay the course, but sometimes doubt can creep in, causing us to question ourselves and our abilities.  

However, it’s essential to stay positive and resilient in the face of doubt, as it is only thorugh perseverance will we achieve our goals and transform our lives.

As I’m currently writing this article, I am facing this very obstacle: doubt.

As bloggers, we write to help solve problems for our readers; and while that is always my goal, I find myself also writing this article for me as well.

See, I’m on this transformative journey as you are- to improve myself and follow my dreams. Although, I’ve been positive up to this point lately, I’ve been facing doubt.

However, it’s essential to stay focused, stay the course and stay positive.

After all, change doesn’t happen in a day, and it’s important to keep this in mind.  

To combat doubt, let’s explore some empowering strategies that can help us stay positive, build inner strength and overcome doubt.

It’s time to kick doubt in the…you know what… and adopt a positive mindset by implementing practical strategies.  

Let’s navigate through these moments of uncertainty and start building some unwavering confidence.  

Let’s do this.

1. Embrace Self Affirmation and Positive Self Talk

One very powerful way to cultivate a positive mindset is through the practice of positive affirmations.

Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself.

By doing so, you are programing your subconscious mind to a more positive mindset in hopes of overcoming doubt.

Make sure your affirmations are specific, concise and in the present tense.

Use statements such as “ I am capable” “ I have the skills to succeed, or “I am worthy of my goals” as positive affirmations.

By consciously shifting your internal dialogue, you are not letting doubt a chance to overcome you. Regularly use positive self talk and you’ll see the improvement in your confidence.

You can easily create and print your own positive affirmation cards. 

After you print, keep these positive affirmation cards in a place where you see them regularly.  A good idea is to keep them at the bedside or at a mirror- anywhere you see them quite often throughout the day.  

Alternatively, you can use  these positive affirmation cards digitally and put them as your wallpaper on your phone, or just keep them in a files folder where you can look at them whenever you feel you need some inspiration.

I have some free positive affirmation cards for free that you can download for your personal use.  These cards comes with filled in positive affirmations, but I have also included blank cards for you to fill in as well.  I hope these help you like they have helped me.  

Positive self talk is so crucial to staying positive and an empowering strategy for inner strength. Read more on what you need to know about positive self talk.

2. Focus On Small Wins And Celebrate Progress

Doubt often arises when we feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of our goals. 

One way to help counteract this is to focus on small wins and celebrate progress.  It’s important to remember the age-old saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day”.  

It’s important to break down your larger goals into smaller, more achievable goals and acknowledge each milestone you reach.  

By recognizing and celebrating your progress you’ll be able to see the obstacles, no matter how small at the moment, you have overcome.  

Staying positive becomes easier when you see tangible evidence of your growth and accomplishments.  

Tip: Document these milestones through journaling.  I find that journaling is so very cathartic and healing for the soul.  Through journaling you’re able to better track your progress.

I have a free goal journal that you can download for free below. This journal has daily and weekly reflections where you can document your achievements as well as your challenges. Click below and check it out.

3. Practice Mindfulness And Gratitude

Other powerful practices for staying positive through doubt are mindfulness and gratitude. 

Engaging in mindfulness such as meditation or deep breathing, not only helps calm your mind but it soothes your soul and helps you in cultivating present moment awareness.  

Practicing gratitude can shift your focus from self doubt to appreciation.  Try reflecting on the things that you are grateful for- the people in your life, and all the accomplishments you have made.  By practiacing gratitude, you are reframing your mindset and creating a positive outlook.  

As I mentioned earlier, journaling is a great way to practice self reflections and improve personal development.  There are so many ways to journal, and the best way is the way that resonates with you the best.  You can journal digitally or if you’re more traditional and love to write your thoughts and feelings out on paper, there are so many options to choose from.  

One option for journaling is Promptly Journals.  There are so many different journals to choose from, many with prompts to help guide your reflection and foster self development.  Check out their website and see what all they have to offer.  

UPDATE: From 12/1/23-12/12/23, Promotly Journals will be having their 12 days of Christmas Sale. This is the PERFECT opportunity to stock up on Christmas, birthday, anniversary gifts. There is a new sale each day, so check it out here before it’s too late!

4. Seek Inspiration And Personal Development

When doubt lingers, seek inspiration and engage in personal development activities. 

You’re already doing great since you’re reading this blog post. When staying positive seems difficult, surround yourself with inspiration. There are so many books, podcasts or videos you can watch in the personal development niche.  The most important thing is to surround yourself with stories of people who have overome doubt and have achieved success.  Participate in workshops, seminars, or enroll in a class that pertains to what you want to achieve.  

By engaging in personal development activities, you are programing your mind and empowering yourself with new skills and tools to achieve your success.  Invest in yourself and you’ll fuel your positivity and stay focused on your path.  

5. Set Realistic Expectations And Goals

Setting realistic expectations and embracing challenges is crucial for staying positive through doubt. 

Understand that setbacks and obstacles are natural parts of any journey.  Instead of viewing these obstacles and setbacks as a sign of failure, it’s important to reprogram your mind to view them as opportunities of growth and learning.  

Try to analyze these setbacks to determine what happened and why.  By digging deeper into the why, you’ll better set yourself up for success.  

When setting goals, it’s imperative to set smaller, more achievable goals as you’re working towards your larger end goal.  

By doing this, you are providing the stepping stones.  Each time you achieve a smaller goal, you gain a sense of accomplishment and momentum, propelling you further.  This not only boosts your motiviation, but also your confidence, and is a way to staying positive through the doubt.  

In addition, breaking down larger goals into smaller milestones allow you to track your progress more effectively, and allows you to celebrate wins more frequently.  

By setting realistic expectations, you alleviate the the pressure of perfection and allow yourself time and room to learn and grow.  

6. Visualize Success And Create A Vision Board

Visualization is a powerful technique for staying positive and overcoming doubt.  Take time to envision yourself achieving your goals and living your desired life.  Creating a vision board is a great way to do this.  

To create a vision board, collect images, quotes, and symbols that represent your dreams and aspirations.  

Use this vision board as a visual reminder of what you’re work ing towards.  

It can be so easy to let the stress of daily living keep us from working towards our goals.  However, by keeping our goals and aspirations in a visual place, we are keeping them in the front of our minds and making time for them.  

As you visualize your success, you reinforce positive beliefs and create a sense of possibility.  

I have a free goal journal with vision board you can download below. Sign up below and check it out.

7. Practice Self Care And Well-Being  

Taking care of your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing is vital for staying positive thorough doubt.  

As difficult as it may be at the time, prioritize self care activities that recharge and rejuvenate you.  Life is busy and, unless you make time for self care, it’s so easy to get caught up in all the to-do lists and taking care of everyone else.  

Engage in regular exercise, eat nourishing foods and get sufficient rest.  Dedicate time to activities that bring you joy such as hobbies, going for nature walks or connecting with loved ones. By nurturing your well-being, you enhance your resilience and maintain a positive mindset, even during challenging times.

Have you ever heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? 

It wasn’t until I started nursing school that I learned about this.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory that categorizes human needs into different levels.

 It starts with basic needs like food and safety, then progresses to social connections and esteem, and finally reaches self-actualization, where individuals strive to fulfill their full potential and find personal fulfillment. Each level builds upon the previous one, and self-actualization is achieved when lower-level needs are met.

Therefore , it’s crucial to take care of your basic needs first in order to achieve a higher level of well being.  

Need more inspiration on self care? After you finish reading this article, click below to read my blog post about the top 20 ways to take care of yourself.

Self Care Ideas- 20 Ways to Take Care of Yourself Now!

8. Reflect On Past Successes

During moments of self doubt, reflect on your past successes to remind yourself of your accomplishments and capabilities. Recall instances when you overcame obstacles and achieved milestones. 

Journaling is such a great way to document your milestones and facilitate self analysis. With journaling you are able to provide a safe space to explore your thoughts, feelings and reactions to situations and obstacles. Journaling facilitates self-reflection, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of yourself.

Reflecting on past successes reinforces a positive self image and helps you navigate self doubt. 

9. Cultivate A Support Network

Cultivating a support network is crucial to staying positive through doubt. 

Seek out individuals who uplift and encourage you, such as friends, family, mentors, or like-minded individuals. Share your doubts and fears with them, and let their support and guidance inspire you. 

Collaborate with people who share the same goals as you and have overcome similar obstacles. 

Connecting with the right people is so important and can aid in personal development. 

Conclusion

Staying positive through doubt is a transformative journey that requires conscious effort and mindset shifts.

By embracing self-affirmation, focusing on small wins, practicing mindfulness and gratitude, seeking inspiration, setting realistic expectations, visualizing success, practicing self-care, reflecting on past successes and cultivating a support network, you can navigate doubt with resilience and maintain a positive outlook.

It’s important to remember that doubt is natural, but it doesn’t define your potential for success. With these empowering strategies, you can overcome doubt, build inner strength, and continue progressing towards your goals with unwavering positivity.

By incorporating these strategies into your life and mindset, you’ll be better equipped to face doubt head-on, cultivate resilience, and maintain a positive attitude throughout your personal and professional journey.

Don’t forget to sign up for my free goal journal below.