Crush The Voice In Your Head That Says "You Can't"
How To Silence Your Inner Critic And Actually Get Sh*t Done
You're staring at a new challenge. You've got the skills. You've got the knowledge. You've got the track record of crushing obstacles in the past. So why the hell is your brain suddenly going, "Hmm, I don't know about this one, chief"?
Why do we doubt ourselves? Especially when we know we have the skills, the knowledge, the desire. We have a track record that shows that when we're faced with adversity or any type of challenge, we're able to overcome those things. We're able to deal with it, move on to the next thing.
Yet we still, when we're faced with something new, have that doubt.
Where Self-Doubt Comes From
I think for a lot of us, we get accustomed to getting into a routine, getting into a zone. This is how our day plays out: we work on this, we do that. And that could be job, relationship, friends, whatever. It doesn't necessarily have to be anything even in your professional life.
But then life throws us a curveball.
Take someone who's been working as a developer for years. They know their stack inside and out. Then suddenly the company pivots: "Hey, we need you to lead this new project using a completely different framework you've never touched before."
All of a sudden everything that we thought was part of our plan gets a little... distracted. We have to take a detour now; we need to stop and figure out, "Okay, what do I need to do with this situation?"
And then our minds race and we question—question our abilities, question everything. "Can I actually learn this new framework fast enough? What if I mess it up? What if everyone realizes I don't know what I'm doing?"
And really at the end of the day, is it really that big of a deal?
Are we just making it bigger than it is? Because life is always going to be full of challenges and distractions and things that are just going to impede progress.
That's just the way it is.
The Comfort Zone Trap
We can't expect everything just to be smooth, but that's what we want, that's what we chase. And once we get to that point and have that taste of comfort, we think we're all good.
The problem is we become numb to challenges; we become numb to trying to do better. Because the one thing we don't want to do is disrupt what we have. So we don't want to rock the boat, so to speak.
So we keep things where they are.
But sometimes we have to rock the boat.
Sometimes we have to push beyond that comfort that we have—to get better, to grow, to build something, to make more money, build a business—whatever those things are. We all have dreams; we all have aspirations. And I think a lot of times we just expect these things to happen without understanding that we have to work towards making those things happen.
Things aren't just going to magically fall into place.
Pushing Past Doubt
We have to put ourselves in a position for those things to fall into place, which means we have to push beyond what we think our limits are. We have to learn new things; try new things; not be afraid of failing with those things.
Things may be hard to learn at first, and we have to understand that... I remember times in my career when I had to learn new things in development. I realized I needed to step back. This process takes time. It's not something I can grasp quickly. I must invest more time to understand the details.
So life will always humble you—but we need that humbling. We need these challenges; these discomforts; these things that shake up the nest—to ensure we're going down the path we need to go.
We can all just sit here and do nothing; be comfortable with what we've got—but then what happens? We get left behind because the world moves on. Economies go up and down; cost of living goes up—all these things change.
Taking Action Despite Doubt
So... we have to push; keep ourselves relevant—and it's only up to us to actually make those things happen. We can't expect other people to do it for us—only we can actually do the work and accomplish what we want.
Don't let that voice of doubt be the one that makes your decisions. Let your actions speak louder. Because honestly? That doubt is just your brain's way of trying to keep you safe. But you weren't made to be safe. You were made to grow.
What's one thing you're doubting yourself about right now? Maybe it's time to take that first step anyway.
Quote of the Day:
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." — Marcus Aurelius
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