Self-Doubt to Advantageous Self-Assurance…

Self-doubt…the secret, unpleasant thoughts that undermined my emotional experience for years.

I used to be convinced that my self-doubt was revealing an uncomfortable truth about me.

But in fact, most of us move through our lives carrying self‑doubt that holds us back and weighs us down.

It can be sneaky - a quiet, emotional discomfort that deprives you of possibility.

It can sound like:

“It’s not possible,”

“You’re not capable,”

“You’ll get it ‘wrong’.”

For years, my brain was brilliant at suggesting that I wasn’t capable.

It didn’t matter how much academic, professional or social ‘success’ I had come may way, my brain always had a “Yes, but…” ready to go.

Every time.

“Yes, but…that was just luck,”

“Yes, but…they don’t know the truth…”

A quiet, familiar voice that was certain I was never quite enough and couldn’t expect to be.

Self-doubt can create challenging emotions such as anxiety, low worth and shame.

These emotions restrict your opportunities and undermine your sense of self.

Yet self‑doubt is NOT evidence you’re ‘less than’ or lack capability.

Why Your Brain Produces Self‑Doubt Naturally:

Self-doubt is a natural brain tendency that encourages caution in relation to social exposure or uncertainty.

Neuroscience shows that the brain is wired to prioritise familiarity over possibility (e.g., Schwabe & Wolf, 2013).

Whenever you consider your potential…

• A new responsibility

• A change

• A new level of visibility

  …your brain generates thoughts designed to pull you back to “the comfort and reassurance of the familiar.”

This is why self-doubt follows you through life no matter how much you ‘achieve’.

Even when you do stretch your capability, such growth then becomes familiar and predictable…

…Your brain simply moves its focus for self-doubt onto to the next unknown.

Self‑Doubt Feels Like Fact But Luckily Isn’t

One of the most challenging parts of self‑doubt is how convincing it feels.

Your brain doesn’t say:

“You’re having a thought that you might not be capable.”

It says:

“You’re not capable.”

Full stop. No option for discussion.

This is why so many high‑achievers feel confused by their own doubt. They assume self-assurance comes automatically with success.

Luckily, self-assurance isn’t available to the lucky few, it’s something we can all teach our brain to produce through emotional skills.

Swapping Default Self‑Doubt for Self-Assurance

As we’ve discussed above, self‑doubt is natural and normal…it’s not revealing a secret truth about you.

This invites in the opportunity for a more balanced interpretation.

When you normalise self-doubt as a common brain tendency, you change your relationship with it.

The opinions your brain offers about your capability only show what your brain is currently practiced at thinking.

Practical Step: Reveal the Doubt Your Brain Offers You

This week, start to consciously notice self-doubt, big and small.

It can be in really small moments.

Perhaps you don’t speak up when you wanted to.

Perhaps you say no to something before you’ve had the chance to realise self-doubt was the reason.

Perhaps you read this article and your brain says:

“You can’t change.”

(I’m very pleased to say this is absolutely NOT the case!)

Start building up awareness of when self-doubt is having an impact and reveal how it’s holding you back.

Not to judge yourself. Just to gain empowering clarity.

It’s Amazing Where Self-Assurance Leads…

Self‑doubt will always try to keep you stuck.

But you get to decide how much influence it has.

When you consciously engage with your self-doubt, you make emotional authority possible. You create the opportunity for clarity and empowering impact.

Removing self-doubt has provided me with the emotional self-support for starting my business, seizing opportunities and exploring my potential.

I want this for you because you deserve the same self-assurance that I’ve taught my brain to produce.

Let’s empower your everyday too.

Schwabe, L., & Wolf, O. T. (2013). Stress and multiple memory systems: From ‘thinking’ to ‘doing’. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(2), 60–68.