Self-doubt affects nearly everyone at some point, but for high-achieving women, it can feel like a constant, invisible barrier.
In fact, one study showed that 75% of women executives experience impostor syndrome in the workplace, a phenomenon rooted in self-doubt and the belief that their success is undeserved. For many, this inner critic whispers that they’re not smart enough, skilled enough, or capable enough—even when evidence clearly suggests otherwise.
But here’s the truth: self-doubt is not a permanent state of being, nor does it define your abilities or potential. Instead, it’s a mental pattern you can challenge and change.
With the right tools and strategies, you can quiet that inner critic, build self-confidence and self-trust, and face challenges with self-belief and resilience.
Today, we’ll explore five powerful, neuroscience-backed strategies to help you overcome self-doubt and build sustainable self-confidence. These approaches are designed not only to address the root causes of self-doubt but also to empower you with practical techniques to create lasting change.
What Is Self-Doubt?
At its core, self-doubt is a lack of confidence in yourself or your abilities. It often shows up as hesitation, fear, or a need for external validation.
While self-doubt might feel like a protective mechanism, it often keeps you stuck and prevents you from reaching your full potential.
What Is Self-Confidence?
Self-confidence isn’t about arrogance or knowing all the answers. It’s about trusting yourself to navigate life’s challenges and knowing that, no matter what happens, you’ll be okay in the end.
Building self-confidence is like strengthening a muscle—it takes intentional effort, but the results are worth it.
View Self-Doubt as Optional
The most important thing I teach my clients is that their thoughts are optional. Self-doubt often feels like a fact, but it’s really a cognitive-emotional pattern. Self-doubt is an emotion caused by a series of thoughts your brain has learned to repeat. When you recognize that these thoughts aren’t set in stone, you gain the power to challenge and change them.
I struggled with massive self-doubt for much of my life. I doubted my skills, abilities, and talents so much that I overworked, overprepared, and overstressed to try to outrun my self-doubt.
Once I learned that my thoughts and patterns around self-doubt were optional, everything changed. I started doing the work to reframe my relationship with risk and failure, and the self-doubt largely melted away.
Understand Where Self-Doubt Comes From
Self-doubt is often your brain’s way of trying to keep you safe. It’s part of your survival mechanism, designed to protect you from failure or rejection.
But the situations that trigger self-doubt today—like speaking up in a meeting or pursuing a new opportunity—rarely pose actual danger.
By understanding that self-doubt is a natural but often unnecessary response, you can begin to see it for what it is: your brain being overly cautious.
One of my clients struggled with self-doubt and fear of rejection around building relationships with potential referral partners. She was afraid that the conversations would be awkward, and that they would dislike her for reaching out and “bothering” them.
I helped her walk through what was going on in her mind, and assess the true level of risk or danger – which wasn’t much. She was able to overcome that hurdle, and start building valuable relationships that have sustained her business.
Confront the Monster Under the Bed
Self-doubt thrives on avoidance. It’s often about avoiding negative emotions that you’re afraid you’ll experience if you take a particular action. It seeks to protect you from potentially experiencing uncomfortable (but temporary) emotions such as embarrassment, rejection, disappointment, and inadequacy. Those kinds of emotions can be kind of like a monster under the bed.
One of the most effective ways to weaken self-doubt is to confront it head-on. Ask yourself:
“What’s the worst that could happen in this situation?”
Then, consider what you would do to navigate the situation and ensure you’d be okay. Often, the fear is much larger than the reality. By facing it directly, you take away its power.
I gave my first keynote speech a few years ago, and found myself feeling terrified in the weeks leading up to it. I worried that I would do a terrible job, that people would judge me or dislike me, and that my talk wouldn’t land the way I wanted it to.
I asked myself:
“What if I DO do a terrible job? What will I decide to make that mean about me, my skills, and my potential?”
“Is it normal for speakers to sometimes do a terrible job?” (The answer is YES.)
“How can I take care of myself, learn, and move forward, whether I do great or do poorly?”
When I took the time to answer these questions from a compassionate, logical, and self-supportive perspective, the specter of fear shrunk down considerably.
Consider What Else Might Be True
Self-doubt often keeps you focused on worst-case scenarios. But what if you flipped the script?
Ask yourself:
“What if this works out?”
“What if I actually do have what it takes?”
Even if things don’t go perfectly, you can learn, grow, and still ensure you’re okay in the end. Choosing to focus on these possibilities opens the door to self-confidence.
Another client of mine struggled with overthinking how her friends, family, and co-workers perceived her. I guided her through considering what else might be true, aside from her fear (rooted in self-doubt) that they were judging her and didn’t think she was good enough. She was able to navigate and manage that self-doubt, and become grounded in self-confidence.
Decide How You Want to Think and Feel Instead
Building self-confidence starts with intention. Think about the situation where you’re experiencing self-doubt. What thoughts and feelings would help you approach it with confidence? Perhaps it’s reminding yourself of past successes, or choosing to focus on growth rather than perfection.
Decide what mindset will serve you, and practice it until it becomes your default.
Many years ago, I realized that self-doubt and self-criticism were holding me back. The problem was, I didn’t know what to do about it.
I found a self-coaching program and started working with coaches one-on-one, and it was totally life-changing.
Over the course of about 3 months, I worked each day at deciding how I wanted to think and feel about myself, and changing my beliefs and perceptions about myself. During that period, I built a foundation of self-confidence and gained the tools to navigate self-doubt effectively. It’s truly one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
How Coaching Can Shorten the Growth Curve
You can absolutely overcome self-doubt on your own, but it often takes longer and involves more trial and error. That’s where coaching comes in.
In my Forged In Grace coaching program, I provide targeted support and guidance to help clients navigate and overcome self-doubt.
Together, we work on identifying the root causes, challenging limiting beliefs, and building the self-confidence they’ve always wanted.
This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about creating lasting change.
Conclusion
Self-doubt doesn’t have to define your life. By viewing it as optional, understanding its origins, confronting your fears, considering growth-centered possibilities, and intentionally choosing confidence, you can create a profound shift in how you see yourself.
If you’re ready to take the next step and fast-track your journey to lasting self-confidence, schedule a free 30-minute enrollment call to learn more about Forged In Grace. Together, we’ll explore how this program can help you overcome self-doubt and step boldly into the confident, empowered version of yourself you’ve always wanted to be.