Overcoming Self-Doubt: How to Trust Yourself and Take Action

We’ve all been there – that little voice in your head whispering, Are you sure you can do this? or What if you mess up and everyone notices? Self-doubt is sneaky like that. It has a habit of showing up uninvited, especially when you're about to step outside your comfort zone. Yuk. And while a little hesitation can be healthy (fair enough, it’s what stops us from making truly questionable life choices), too much of it can keep you stuck in one place without development. Which is not good for your mind.

So, what do you do when that inner critic starts shouting louder than your confidence? That’s where coaching (and a little mindset shift) comes in.

Self-Doubt: The Frenemy You Didn’t Ask For

Think of self-doubt like that overly cautious friend who panics over every minor risk. Their intentions are good, but their advice? Not always helpful. Self-doubt often comes from fear, not reality. Have you seen the Disney Pixar film, Inside Out? You know “Fear” – the purple, jittery, over-cautious one who only sees life through worst case scenarios? Well he’s in his element in these moments of self-doubt! Most of the time, the things we worry about haven’t even happened yet, or never will.

Dr. Steve Peters, in The Chimp Paradox, describes this as your "Chimp Brain" at work. It’s the emotional, impulsive part of your mind that jumps to conclusions and freaks out at potential threats – even if those threats are just mildly awkward conversations or sending an email with a typo. Your rational brain (the Human) knows better, but the Chimp is louder, more dramatic, and really bad at fact-checking.

Coaching helps you to recognise when your Chimp is in control and reminds you that feeling uncertain doesn’t mean you’re incapable – it just means your brain is trying (sometimes a little too hard) to protect you. And you can still face the thing in front of you.

Reframing the "What Ifs"

When you’re knee-deep in self-doubt, your Chimp brain turns into a worst-case-scenario machine. What if I fail? What if people judge me? What if I fall flat on my face? 

Instead of spiraling, try flipping the script. Rather than asking, What if I fail?, ask What if I succeed? Or even, What’s the worst that can happen? (Spoiler: it’s usually not as bad as your Chimp thinks.)

Dr. Peters emphasizes that managing your Chimp doesn’t mean ignoring fear - it means acknowledging it and then deciding whether it’s actually useful. If your Chimp is panicking over something irrational, it’s time to let your rational brain step in and take control. I’ve been a fan of Dr Steve Peters’ work for many years now, and highly recommend a read of his books to help understand the workings of the mind. 

Small Steps, Big Confidence Boosts

If self-doubt is stopping you from taking a huge leap, don’t force yourself to jump - take a small step instead. Confidence doesn’t come from waiting until you feel ready; it comes from taking action, even when you don’t feel ready. My coaching is often driven by small manageable steps, and I’ll explore with my clients the next small step they can take towards achieving their goal. 

So break big goals into smaller, manageable steps. Think bite-sized progress, not overwhelming to-do list. The more small wins you collect, the more your brain starts believing that you can do it. And as your rational brain gains more evidence, your Chimp starts to calm down.

Celebrate Yourself (Yes, You!)

Self-doubt loves to point out what you haven’t done, so it’s up to you to remind yourself of what you have accomplished. And no, it doesn’t have to be a major life achievement - sometimes just making it through a tough day deserves recognition.

Take a moment to celebrate your progress. Finished a project? Take yourself out for coffee. Stuck to a commitment? Give yourself credit. Even a simple “Nice work, me” in the mirror can reinforce a positive mindset (awkward at first, but it works).

Trust Yourself - You’re More Capable Than You Think

Self-doubt often makes us second-guess our decisions or wait for the perfect moment to take action. But here’s a little secret: that perfect moment? It rarely exists. Trusting yourself means making decisions with the knowledge you have right now, and learning as you go.

Our emotional brain will always be there, questioning our abilities and we need to sometimes - but we don’t have to let it run the show. When you learn to manage your Chimp, you start making confident decisions based on facts rather than fear.

So, Ready to Ditch Self-Doubt?

The first step to overcoming self-doubt is recognizing it for what it is – a normal feeling, not a defining truth. Coaching can help you strengthen your self-trust, take action with confidence, and finally quiet that inner critic when it gets too loud.

You are capable of more than you think, and self-doubt doesn’t have to call the shots. If you’re ready to take the next step, let’s talk. Book a call with me today, and let’s start turning that doubt into confidence, one small step at a time.