Losing self-doubt and finding self-worth

Self-doubt often manifests as an internal characteristic, constantly undermining your confidence. It often serves as the landlord in the house where imposter syndrome is a tenant. 

I grappled with self-doubt and a lack of self-belief for many years, feeling I would never measure up or be anything. However, I eventually broke free from this thought pattern, altering my perception and discovering my self-worth.

To overcome self-doubt, I had to confront the issues within myself. I had to question the origin of my self-doubt and my challenging beliefs that hindered my confidence. Sometimes, facing the buried aspects of oneself and asking tough questions is necessary to discover what is holding you back and to hopefully move forward.

Moreover, the people you’re surrounded by and that you surround yourself with play a crucial role in combating self-doubt. Positive influences uplift and speak life into your existence. Now, seeking validation should not be the rule that governs your life but at times it has its value. Surrounding oneself with positivity helps in seeing one's worth and encourages self-affirmation.

Self-worth, to me, is having the desire to discover more about yourself and who you are becoming the aspirations and dreams you have. It’s having an interest in yourself. 

Having self-worth involves knowing that you are capable and that through effort and daily reminders of your potential, you can succeed and overcome anything. 

Proverbs 18:21 states: “There is life and death in the power of the tongue, those who love it will eat it’s fruit”.

James 3:5 states: “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. A great forest is set on fire by a small spark”.

The way we speak to ourselves and about our situations significantly influences the outcomes in our lives. Despite negative comments people may have shared about you and your situation, to you or in private, positive self-talk can reshape our perceptions, empower us to overcome challenges and can also ignite something great in you.

Journaling can also serve as an effective tool in finding your self-worth, an outlet for expressing thoughts and goals. Personally, writing down aspirations, prayers, and feelings aided in my growth and helped me to visualise my progression better.

Finding your self-worth begins by acknowledging that a prosperous and healthy future for yourself is within reach. Simultaneously, losing self-doubt starts with grasping the notion that the past does not determine the beauty of your future.

But learning all this, having patience with yourself is important in this journey, and actively cultivating it is essential. Granting yourself more grace, learning from failures, and understanding that progress unfolds gradually. You cannot go after the whole room at once.

Anu Aborisade