Recently I got a text from a sweet friend of mine that is just days away from graduating to become a Physician Assistant and is about to take her board exam to get her license. She was asking about anxiety, and how to overcome it.
She texted, “Have you ever noticed or experienced anxiety when you’re doing exactly what you should be doing?”
Now, this woman is good. She knows her stuff. She’s my friend that I text when I get strange bumps on my body. She is also my friend that through every oncologist appointment that my mother-in-law has gone to, she tells me what the results mean and how the medications work. She is incredibly educated and thorough and gifted. And here she is anxious. Why?
I responded to her text, “Absolutely. I think anxiety is also associated to self-doubt. Are you doubting your abilities or lacking confidence?”
And it was as if a lightbulb when off in her mind.
No one cares what I think.
There’s someone better at it.
I’m really not that good.
There are so many other people doing the same thing. I’m just a little fish.
No one appreciates my efforts.
My voice doesn’t have value.
I’m not capable.
Self Doubt. Most of us have probably experienced it at some point in our adult life. It robs creativity and productivity. It looks very similar to insecurity, because it’s in the same family, but effects us differently…
Self-Doubt’s greatest goal is to make you give up.
Self-Doubt prevents you from being obedient to the calling God has placed on your life.
4 Questions to Ask Yourself to Identity Self-Doubt:
1. Do you often struggle to believe that your opinion has value?
2. When someone asks for your advice do you pass the buck and redirect them to someone else because they’re “better at it” than you?
3. Do you feel too uneducated, ill-equipped or inexperienced in the thing you’re trying to move forward in?
4. Do you often want to give up on the thing you believe God has asked you to do?
If you have answered YES to all of these questions, then you can be sure that self-doubt is trying to make you USELESS in this one life we’ve been given.
So, now that we have successfully identified the struggle what do we do next?
Apply truth.
Three ways to help you overcome Self-Doubt:
– Authoritative Mentorship.
This is a person that has the credibility to tell you you’re qualified. This person cheers you on and gives you resources to go to the next level. They’ve already been in your shoes, so they know how to propel you forward.
– Education.
Sometimes doubt creeps in because we’re uneducated. The feeling of being uneducated is effortless to overcome; read a book about it. Haha.
A good leader is a good reader. So, if you’re trying to be the lead in your niche, you better be reading more than everyone else.
– Community.
These are the peers that BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS. These are the friends that say, “you can do it!” These are the people that watch your kids for you so you can study and press forward. It takes a village. The sheep that wanders from the flock never make it out alive, there is too much in the wilderness that wants to kill it. Don’t be the sheep that strays. Learn to stay.
I’ll finish with Timothy…
I believe that Timothy in the Bible struggled with Self-Doubt.
2 Timothy 1:6-7
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Timothy received a gifting through the laying on of hands through the Apostle Paul. That gifting was already in Timothy, but Paul was able to see it and call it forth. Although Timothy had Paul in his corner cheering and encouraging him on, Timothy still felt timid. He was young, and I can only imagine the self-doubt he felt when trying to lead a whole church!
So, here comes Paul reminding him that GOD has placed this gift within him and he needs to be bold and go for it! God has not given him a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline.
Paul is coming in his corner and reminding him to press forward. To not allow self-doubt, fear, or anxiety to rob him of his calling.
And I say the same thing to you, friend. Where ever you are, do not allow self-doubt and fear to make you useless for the kingdom of God. Be faithful with the talents and abilities God has given you, and PRESS FORWARD. Find a mentor to cheer you on. Place yourself in a community that believes in you!
You are capable because the one true living God is within you and will empower you to do it.
So, do it. Be bold and determined for the Savior that has rescued you!
This article originally appeared on CrumbsandGlamour.com. Used with permission.
Amaris Beecher is a whole-hearted Christian, richly blessed wife, and mother of two stunners, living life in sunny Orlando, FL. Her goal is to inspire women to live their lives with authenticity and freedom through Jesus Christ! For more from Amaris please visit CrumbsandGlamour.com.
Image courtesy: ©Thinkstock/kitzcorner
Publication date: September 28, 2017