How to get rid of doubt in your life
TweetEveryone experiences doubt at one time or another. I think it’s unavoidable, unfortunately. But the key is to figure out what to do with that doubt.
It’s when I’ve gone through the toughest times in my life – when I’ve experienced the biggest doubt – that I’ve learned how strong I can be.
But when I was going through it, I had to make a conscious decision to choose to believe. Remember that word: choose. You have to choose to go the opposite direction of doubt – to believe.
I’ll tell you a story about a time in my life that I overcame doubt. And not only was I doubting – I was pretty much in the beginning stages of having a panic attack! And I’m serious about that.
It happened very early in the morning, around 5:00 AM, way up in the mountains. You see, I had decided that I wanted to climb up a mountain. The mountain is called a “fourteener” which means the peak is over 14,000 feet high. So I basically had to hike up the very, very steep face of the mountain, while having less oxygen at the same time – that means it’s way harder to breathe.
David (my husband) and I arrived at the base of the trail early in the morning, when it was still pitch black outside. You could not even see the top of the mountain. You could only see the trail in front of you. We had headlamps on just so we could see the trail. All was fine – I started walking. It was pretty flat at first. But then, all the sudden, the sun started coming up. Then I could REALLY see the top of the mountain! It was ridiculously high!
All the sudden I thought to myself, what the heck was I thinking? I have really bitten off more than I can chew this time! And on top of it, I thought I was starting to experience altitude sickness: dizziness, nausea and a slight feeling of panic! (But in reality, that was the anxiety speaking.) I started to seriously doubt myself and my ability to make it up that mountain. I literally talked myself OUT of hiking up the mountain right then and there. I stopped and said that there is no way I can make it.
Then David started telling me that most likely it’s not altitude sickness, and that I’m just worried. At first I was thinking, no, it is altitude sickness and I can’t physically make it up that mountain! Well, I stopped for a minute, took out a trail mix bar and munched on it for a minute – then I put it back in my pocket because I felt so nauseous I couldn’t stomach it. Then I realized that I was selling myself short. I thought of how disappointed I would be when I got home, because I was going to stop without even giving it a good effort. I was going to let fear stop me.
I decided to put forth my best effort, and I put one foot in front of the other. I decided that I owed it to myself to at least give it my best shot. (Here is when I made the choice to not let the doubt win.) I turned on my music to distract myself from my thoughts and forged ahead. There were so many times hiking up that huge mountain that I experienced doubt. At one point, I could only take a few steps, take a break, and then keep going. But you know what – I FINALLY made it to the top. And when I did, I was so surprised and proud that I had actually accomplished my goal. It may not mean a lot to some others, but for me it meant everything.
I actually realized at that moment that if I can overcome that much doubt, that much fear, then what else can I accomplish in my life? How many other things have I written off as “too difficult”?
What do you want to accomplish in your life that you have written off as too difficult? How many times have you doubted yourself – and let that doubt stop you dead in your tracks? What would your life be like if you finally let go of that doubt? Take a moment to ponder what you want in your life and believe in yourself.
When I doubt myself or when I’m in a situation where I want a positive outcome, I repeat affirmations over and over. I find that when those negative thoughts creep in, I stop and say something like: “All is well” and take a couple of deep breaths. Afterwards I find myself smiling after such doubting thoughts!
Peace
Yes, Pesanti. Great advice – thanks for sharing!
Hey… just found your blog. I just started reading Wayne Dyer’s Wishes Fulfilled and wanted to figure out how to change my thinking and found your list of affirmations and blog. I love what I have read and hope to read more of your essays. Thanks for sharing and setting up a forum for this kind of thing! congrats on the mountain climb as well. :)
Thank you! I love Wishes Fulfilled and think I will read it again soon. Affirmations are a great way to change your thinking – thanks for sharing :)