Do your insecurities hinder your success and growth? Do you find yourself shying away from relationships or professional opportunities due to fear?
It is normal to feel insecure occasionally. Maybe you are afraid to ask that cute guy out on a date. Or perhaps you avoid presenting your pitch at work because you doubt anyone will like your idea.
While everyone has moments of self-doubt, not everyone is controlled by their insecurities.
If you feel your lack of self-confidence and self-love is preventing you from living the life you want to live, you may need to develop some techniques to outsmart your insecurities.
Negative self-talk
One of biggest barriers to success is negative self-talk. We do it all the time.
How often have you told yourself the following?
“You’re not even qualified for this job.”
“You’re going to bomb this exam.”
“You look terrible today. She’ll never agree to a second date.”
“Why are you even trying?”
Sound familiar?
We all have an inner critic that feeds on our fears and doesn’t give us a break until it quashes our dreams and makes us feel tiny. The inner critic robs us of our emotional wellbeing and stops us from living the life we want to live.
How to outsmart your inner critic
The good news is the inner critic is not invincible. You have the power to turn your inner voice into a positive advocate.
Here are three tips to make that inner voice your friend:
- Talk back to your inner critic. When that nagging voice tries to tell you that you’re no good, silence it immediately. Pick a go-to phrase. It can be any phrase, as long as it works for you. Some examples include: “I don’t want to hear from you.” “See you never.” or “Oprah says relax.”
- Laugh at yourself. Learning to laugh at yourself is the best way to combat self-doubt. When you fail (because we all do!), instead of feeling embarrassed or inadequate, laugh at the mistake and move on. You can only do your best, and ruminating will only bring you down further.
- Bring in the positive. Actively find ways to praise yourself, for example: “Wow, you were so efficient with that assignment!” or “You were so articulate in that conversation!” Think about what a loving inner voice would say, and redirect that voice to build you up instead of bringing you down.
Once you outsmart your inner critic, you will become empowered to take more risks and try new things, opening the door to becoming happier, more successful, and free to live the life you want.
Reach out today
Jennifer can help you overcome your insecurities and live a more fulfilling life. Call her today for a complimentary consultation, or just fill out the contact form and click Send.