Self doubt and the voices in your head, how do they make you feel?

First Published 19 May 2022

Do you ever notice that little voice (or voices) in your head, filling you with doubt and negativity around your abilities?  Or even your choices and feelings?

Maybe it’s really subtle and it takes a while to notice.  Maybe it’s really obvious and is berating you all the time.

However it’s showing up, it’s most likely your subconscious’ way of trying to ‘protect’ you!  Bizarre, right?

To say that it feels less than helpful is an understatement.

I am usually quite fortunate, the voice in my head is normally quiet (but perhaps it’s just really subtle and takes a while to build…🤯?)  This week it did feel like it was in full rage mode. 

I’m not going to lie – it was overwhelming!

I wanted to have a tantrum, or to go curl up in the quiet and shut out the world.  But, hiding away never really helps in the long run as it just gives that little voice permission to keep going.

And then lightbulb💡moment – I remembered what I do for a living🤦🏻‍♀️!!
I have tools to deal with this.  And almost as importantly, I have some supportive people in my corner to help rationalise what the voice is telling me, helping me to see through the fog.

I used the tip of the tongue exercise (shameless plug of my handy download with a great selection of tips to quieten the mind).  I went for a walk with a friend (well kinda – we were on the phone to each other while walking).  And then I did what I have been avoiding for far too long – I put pen to paper and journaled it out!

I will hold my hands up here and say that if I had been taking my own ‘advice’, I would have been writing sh*t down the whole time, and then maybe that voice would never have been given permission to take over.

So to wrap it all up:

• Download my handy guide – and learn the techniques so they are always handy
• Write it out – spend some time each day unpacking your thoughts, feelings & frustrations
• Get your supporters on speed dial
• Pay attention to the voice – have a conversation with it.  Thank it for trying to protect you and kindly tell it to go away – on second thoughts – you don’t have to be kind when you tell it where to go 😉
• Be kind to yourself.  You are only human – doubts are normal, it’s what you do once you realise you have them that counts.  Listen to the doubts, rationalise and make changes if they are what feels right to you and just keep moving forwards.