Doubt, My First Special Guest!

Welcome Doubt!

Let’s talk about Doubt. That persistent little worrier who sits in the back of your mind, raising its hand like an overeager student during the test you didn’t study for. Doubt’s job isn’t to ruin your life—it’s just trying to keep you safe, like the safety manager at a middle school dance. “Are you sure you should do this? What if everyone laughs at you? Did you even check for toilet paper before you sat down?”

But here’s the twist: Doubt’s not the bad guy. It’s just a concerned voice that doesn’t even like its current roommates—Disappointment, Hurt, and Pain. (Honestly, who would?) Doubt’s problem is that it’s been overpromoted, like that coworker who just wanted to write reports but accidentally became the boss.

In my latest podcast episode, I gave Doubt the mic—and, oh, was it reluctant to take the spotlight. But here’s what I learned:

Actionable Tips for Handling Doubt (Without Letting It Move In)

1. Talk to Your Doubt

   
   

   Yep, out loud. (No, you’re not crazy. Well, maybe a little.) Ask it:

   • “Why are you here right now?”

   • “What are you trying to protect me from?”

   • “Do you really think I should listen to you or are you just bored?”

     
     

2. Sometimes, Doubt just wants to be acknowledged. Like that overly dramatic friend who calms down as soon as you say, “I hear you.”

1. Set Boundaries with Doubt

   
   

   Doubt is like a toddler. It needs clear limits:

   • “You can warn me, but you don’t get to make the final call.”

   • “I’ll listen, but if you start yelling, I’m out.”

     
     

2. Remember, you’re the adult in this relationship. Doubt is just here to remind you to double-check the parachute before you jump—not to keep you grounded forever.

1. Take Small Risks Anyway

   
   

   Doubt hates action. It prefers sitting in the corner, mumbling “What if?” over and over. The best way to quiet it? Do the thing. Start small:

   • Nervous about speaking up in a meeting? Say one sentence.

   • Worried about failing? Try something tiny you don’t care about.

     
     

2. Every time you act, you shrink Doubt’s influence. Soon, it’ll realize it doesn’t need to chime in every five minutes.

Why You Should Thank Your Doubt

Here’s the weird part: Doubt isn’t here to ruin you. It’s here to make you pause, consider, and move forward better prepared. When you stop treating it like an enemy and start treating it like an overzealous safety inspector, things get easier.

That’s what I learned during my chat with my doubt (which, by the way, still isn’t sure about this blog post). But hey, life isn’t about getting rid of Doubt. It’s about learning how to live with it—and sometimes even laugh at it.