5 Steps to overcome doubt and finally achieve your projects

Photo de Estée Janssens

For years, I suffered from "chronic doubt" (at least, that's what I call it).

How did it happen? Quite simply, I would get an inspiration, an idea, or a project that would consume my thoughts. For weeks, months, and sometimes even years, I would plan, prepare, and refine the concept. Yet, despite all this effort, many projects would never see the light of day.

However, this ever-present project would end up haunting me, causing stomach and head aches.

Why?

Because when it came time to take action, I doubted myself, my abilities, and the project's success. Naturally, since I doubted, I felt I needed to work even more on the project to make it as perfect as possible (giving me the impression of doing something while waiting for Holy Spirit ).

Because of these doubts, I turned to perfectionism. Since I wasn't taking action, I procrastinated, which was a nightmare. This was made worse by lots of negative thoughts.

It was a never-ending cycle, feeling stuck and paralyzed. I wasn’t making progress, yet time was passing quickly, leading to frustration. It was vital for me to find a way out of this hell.

We often hear that to overcome self-doubt, we should:

• Practice self-love
• Practice positive affirmation

These solutions are interesting but not enough. Personally, here's how I managed to overcome doubts.

1. Identify your doubts and fears

To find your doubts, observe your daily thoughts and write them down in a notebook for a few days. Then, make a list of these doubts (your negative thoughts).

Next, question each doubt:

• Where does this doubt come from?
• What limiting belief is tied to this doubt?
• Where does this limiting belief come from (upbringing, society, close ones, or other sources)?
• Is this belief real or imaginary?
• Will things necessarily turn out this way or not?

Know that behind our doubts lie fears. So, ask yourself what you are afraid of.

For example, it took me years to get started on this online content creation project because I doubted myself and ended up procrastinating. Why? Because I was afraid I wouldn't measure up, that I wouldn't be capable of accomplishing the tasks needed to successfully complete the project. I felt like the tasks were too big and would take me too much time.

Reflect on the fears related to your doubts and note them in a notebook.

2. Create an action plan

Once you have identified your doubts and fears, take a moment to determine what needs to be done to address them.

In my case, I didn’t accomplish my project because I thought the task was too big. So, my solution was to break the project down into smaller, manageable tasks that I could do daily. After listing these steps, I planned them into my schedule. This allowed me to make regular progress and reduce my sense of overload.

Go on, list the steps for your goal and create an action plan suited to your daily life.

3. Create a new version of yourself or an alter ego

To overcome your doubts, you need to take action, and to take action, you necessarily need to change.

You need to embody a new version of yourself or an alter ego with personality traits that will enable you to act on your desires. Continuing to be as you are today will keep you in the same cycle of doubts, resulting in the same outcomes.

Here's how to create a new version of yourself or an alter ego to embody and perform:

Write in your notebook, “If I had no doubts”:

• My life would be like this, I would have this job, I would do these things, etc.
• I would be this person (detail everything: clothing, personality, physical and mental traits).

Then, list what would be necessary to put in place for this new life. Order this list by priority. Choose a goal and detail all the intermediate steps required to achieve it.

But to accomplish this goal, you need a new version of yourself or an alter ego right - So, now develop in writing the qualities you wish to have. This alter ego should have traits that eliminate your doubts. For example, if your doubt is about a lack of confidence, your alter ego should be extremely confident.

Finally, choose a name, a personality, and even physical attributes or a costume for your alter ego.

4- Reprogram Your Mind

Regularly visualize yourself as your new version/alter ego, facing situations with confidence and resilience.

Imagine yourself overcoming doubts and achieving your goals. This mental exercise strengthens the connection with your alter ego and positive beliefs. For example, change your vision of doubt: “I’m not good enough to lead this project” to a new self-image: “As my alter ego, I am a leader with unparalleled skills and vision. I’ve prepared for this moment, and I have the ability to succeed. Let’s go!”

Additionally, use positive affirmation to mentally reprogram and eliminate doubts. Repeat positive and motivating phrases that counteract negative and limiting thoughts. For example, replace “I’m not capable” with “I am competent and ready to take on this challenge.”

Very important: reinforce your positive affirmations with concrete actions that demonstrate your ability to succeed. Simply repeating positive affirmations without taking action will not change your life.

5. Reject your doubts

We are human beings; we will always have doubts. And our doubts can sometimes be useful. They allow us to take stock. However, not evolving because we let doubts overwhelm us is self-sabotage.

I recommend learning to pay attention to your daily thoughts and practicing mindfulness to quickly catch when a doubt arises.

As Todd Herman suggests in his book “The Alter Ego Effect,” don’t let your doubts take over; step into the shoes of your alter ego and confront your doubts by immediately rejecting them with a specific response. This response must be assertive.

For example:

Doubt: “I will fail.” Response: “Failure is a stepping stone to success, and I learn from each attempt. I am resilient and unstoppable. So, doubt, get out of my mind, I don’t need you.”

Also, you can associate your response with an action or a physical object. For example, you could clench your fist, straighten your posture, or wear a specific piece of clothing. This physical anchor can help trigger the mental shift to your alter ego.

Conclusion

If you want to live the life you deserve and desire, you must inevitably take stock of what is working or not in your life. If today you feel you’re not living your best life because you’re paralyzed by doubts and fears, there’s only one solution: change and improve the version of yourself to achieve your goals. To do this, identify your doubts and fears, determine possible solutions to address them, create a new version of yourself, and reprogram your way of thinking to evolve.