Self-Doubt, the Maintainer of Low Self-Esteem
We all have dealt with self-doubt in times where we were not sure we were making the best decision for ourselves or for others. There were probably many factors to take in in order to make your decision, too.
However, did you know that low self-esteem can be a factor that affects our self-doubt. Individuals with low self-esteem have trouble maintaining high levels of confidence, trust in themselves, and trust in their abilities. This can lead to more self-doubt as their confidence levels drop over time.
Low self-esteem, as we talked about previously, affects many aspects of our lives. It makes it harder to function at work or school, it makes it harder to connect and feel fulfilled in relationships, it makes it harder to take care of ourselves, and it makes it harder to understand ourselves on an emotional level.
When low self-esteem and self-doubt work hand in hand, it creates a cycle of negativity that constantly feed each other which makes breaking the cycle quite difficult. As mentioned last week, it is not impossible to break the cycle. There are a few ways to tackle low self-esteem, and in turn, self-doubt.
One way to deal with self-doubt is to practice self-compassion. We’ve talked about self-compassion here on Finding Tranquility before. One of the simplest self-compassion steps to practice is self-kindness. It can be simplified even further as treating yourself as you would treat a friend. We all have a harsh inner critic that tells us, “You’re not good enough. You’re going to fail. You’re terrible” but take a moment to step back. Is anything we are saying, really true? Is that what our friends say about us? Surely not! Your friends know that you work hard, that you try your best, that you have off days, but you are getting through it as best as you can, that you’re strong and capable. It’s okay to remind yourself of your positive traits. They make up who you are.
Another way to deal with self-doubt is to keep a journal. Keep track of your feelings and emotions, the things you’ve accomplished, the way that made you feel, and the stuff that made you uncomfortable. Penning all of this doesn’t have to be eloquent, you can be messy, you can doodle in the process, you can misspell all the words you want, but keeping track by journaling can help you process your anxieties around yourself.
Lastly, therapy is a great way to deal with self-doubt. Sometimes we can’t do it all on our own or even with the help of our friends and we might need to rely on someone else. Here at Finding Tranquility Psychotherapy Services we have trained professionals that are ready to reach out and lend their hand so you can tackle your self-doubt. We understand it’s not an easy battle and want to be here for you.
Never forget you are capable of so much and you are amazing.