How to believe in yourself: 12 ways to overcome self-doubt
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, CDCES, MBA
Learn how to believe in yourself and why it can benefit your life. Plus, 12 tips to boost your self-belief and overcome self-doubt.
How many times have you thought about something you’d like to do, say, or try, only to shut down that thought because of a lack of confidence in yourself? If you’re like us, it’s way too many to count. But there’s got to be something we can do to believe in ourselves… right? Right!
Believing in yourself can give you the confidence to embrace challenges and pursue your dreams. It can help you overcome obstacles, recover from setbacks, and keep moving forward — even when things get tough. Self-belief boosts your resilience, which can come in handy for everything from work setbacks to falling short on personal goals and everything in between.
If you’re lacking in self-confidence and filled with self-doubt, it can hold you back. Luckily, there are steps we can take to regain control of the reigns of our lives. It’s time to switch up self-doubt for self-belief so you can find success, happiness, and step into your potential — and stay there.
What it really means to believe in yourself
Self-belief isn't about thinking you're perfect or better than anyone else. Instead, it's about having a realistic understanding of your strengths and weaknesses and trusting you have the ability to learn, grow, and adapt to whatever life throws at you.
Believing in yourself means having a positive attitude about what you’re able to achieve and using both your strengths and weaknesses to your advantage. These combined behaviors are known as self-efficacy, and having it is crucial for personal growth and success.
When you believe in your self-efficacy, you’re more likely to say yes to difficult tasks, work through setbacks with grit and determination, and achieve your personal and professional goals, no matter how long it takes.
Why self-belief matters
Self-belief shapes your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, even if you don’t realize it. Believing in yourself can make you more likely to take calculated risks and try new things, stay motivated and focused on your goals, handle stress and adversity, and feel happier and more content with your life. Basically, self-belief is our jam, and we can’t stress enough how important it is to ensure you’ve got yours on lock.
The benefits of believing in yourself
Believing in yourself can provide you with wonderful opportunities for growth, as well as qualities and skills to carry with you into other areas of your life. Below are some of our favorites.
Enhanced confidence and self-esteem: When you feel more confident in your abilities and decisions, you’re more likely to take on challenges and speak up for yourself. This can lead to greater success and fulfillment as you step into your power and confidence.
Increased resilience and ability to handle setbacks: When you trust yourself to overcome obstacles, you’re more likely to view challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than insurmountable problems.
Improved mental and emotional wellbeing: Believing in yourself can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression and increase your overall sense of happiness and satisfaction. Self-belief can help you view life in a positive light and make you feel more in control of your destiny.
Greater motivation and persistence in pursuing goals: When you trust in your ability to succeed, you’re more likely to set ambitious goals and work diligently to achieve them. This drive can lead to more personal and professional accomplishments as you inch your way out of your comfort zone and prove your worth and capabilities time and time again.
How to believe in yourself: 8 tips for boosting self-efficacy
If the idea of self-belief doesn’t seem possible, try these tips to help you challenge your negative thinking and replace it with positivity instead. The fact of the matter is everyone is capable of believing in themselves — and, yes, that includes you!
1. Find what’s blocking you
Look for mental or emotional blocks that may be preventing you from believing in yourself. These might be previous failures, negative experiences, or memories of people from your past putting you down or knocking your self-confidence.
Top tip: Keep a journal about thoughts and experiences that make you doubt yourself. This can help you recognize patterns and work through them.
💙 Uncover Hidden Emotions during this meditation with Tamara Levitt and get one step closer to clearing those blockages and negative thoughts.
2. Change your self-talk
The way you talk to yourself can impact your self-belief, so use positive self-talk and affirmations to replace negative thoughts. Remind yourself of your strengths and past successes as often as you need, and don’t feel shy when it comes to being your No. 1 hype person!
Top tip: Create a list of positive affirmations and read them aloud every morning. For example, "I am capable of achieving my goals," or "I believe in my abilities."
💙 Explore our Radical Self-Compassion program with Tara Brach for guided help in regularly practicing self-love and positive self-talk.
3. Surround yourself with positive people
Spend time with those who encourage and support you and who believe in your potential. Friends and loved ones that make you laugh and believe in your hopes and dreams can positively influence your self-belief.
Top tip: Join a club or group that focuses on personal development or a hobby you enjoy. Surround yourself with like-minded, positive people who lift you up.
💙 Check out The Spark’s The Power of Hobbies session for inspiration to further explore what interests you (and meet people while doing it).
4. Make it a goal to practice self-confidence
Set small, achievable goals around building your confidence, like walking with your head held high or speaking up in a meeting at work. Each small success can help boost your self-belief and give you the confidence to tackle bigger challenges.
Top tip: Break down a larger goal into smaller, manageable steps. Celebrate each step you complete to help build momentum.
💙 Get in the habit of Checking in With Yourself regularly to notice how achieving even something small, like voicing your opinion, can boost your confidence and belief in yourself.
5. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small
Acknowledge and reward yourself for every achievement — regardless of their size or the area of your life. Recognizing your progress reinforces your belief in your abilities.
Top tip: Each day, write down three things you’ve accomplished. This can help you focus on your successes and create a positive mindset.
💙 Recognize the work you’ve done so far by highlighting your Achievements during this Daily Calm session, and allow yourself to feel proud of all you’ve accomplished.
6. Create healthy daily routines
A healthy lifestyle supports a positive mindset and self-belief, so make it a point to prioritize self-care in ways that feel loving and kind to you.
Top tip: Develop a daily routine that includes time for exercise, healthy meals, and relaxation to help improve your overall wellbeing and confidence.
💙 Indulge in self-kindness with (Self) Love Bombing, a mindfulness practice with Jeff Warren on the power of being kind to yourself.
7. Seek feedback and constructive criticism
View criticism as an opportunity to help you improve and grow, rather than as a setback. We know it isn’t always easy to receive feedback or constructive criticism, but when it’s shared with love and received with positive intentions, feedback of this kind can be incredibly helpful for our personal growth.
Top tip: Ask a mentor or trusted friend for feedback on a project or goal. Use their input to make improvements and build your skills.
💙 Explore how receiving feedback can benefit your confidence and self-belief with the Daily Jay’s episode on Facing Feedback.
8. Develop a growth mindset
See challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. Understand that your abilities and intelligence can grow through effort and perseverance.
Top tip: When you’re faced with a problem, remind yourself that it's a chance to grow and expand your knowledge and confidence. Focus on what you can learn from the experience in the long-term, rather than how difficult it is now.
💙 Check out our short Growth Mindset practice to help you expand and evolve with trust and confidence.
4 ways to overcome doubts in yourself
Let’s face it: We’ve all experienced self-doubt, whether it’s from the joke we told at the party that landed flat or the suggestion we made in the work meeting that wasn’t acknowledged. The good news is there are strategies to overcome self-doubt that are easier to practice than you’d think.
1. Challenge negative beliefs
Negative beliefs can undermine your confidence and hold you back from achieving your potential. Challenge these thoughts with evidence and rational thinking. Ask yourself if these beliefs are based on facts or assumptions.
How? Write down a negative belief you hold about yourself. Next, list evidence that discredits this belief. For example, if you believe "I'm not good enough," counter it with examples of your achievements and positive feedback you've received.
💙 Explore how to Overcome Negative Thinking with Chibs Okereke’s kindness meditation.
2. Learn from past experiences
Use past failures as learning opportunities to help you develop and problem-solve, rather than as issues you’ll never overcome or forget.
How? When you encounter a setback, analyze what happened. Write down what you learned from the experience and how you can apply these lessons in the future. This can help turn negative experiences into valuable growth opportunities.
💙 Try this guided meditation on building Resilience to help you remain focused as you navigate change and adversity.
3. Visualize your success
Picture yourself achieving your goals and handling challenges with confidence. This can help prepare you for success and boost your self-belief.
How? Each day, spend a few minutes imagining yourself successfully completing each step toward your goal and the positive feelings that come with it. This can help you build confidence and reduce anxiety about the future.
💙 Add soothing sounds to your visualization practice with one of our favorite Soundscapes, Forest Ambiance.
4. Get professional support if needed
If self-doubt becomes overwhelming, therapists, coaches, or support groups can provide ways to help you build self-belief and overcome doubts.
How? Take some time to research therapists or coaches who specialize in confidence and self-esteem issues. Join a support group where you can share experiences and get encouragement from others facing similar challenges.
How to believe in yourself FAQs
How can I rebuild self-belief after a major failure or setback?
Rebuilding self-belief after a major failure or setback can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can overcome the lack of confidence and get back on your feet.
Start by reflecting on what went wrong and what lessons you can learn from the experience. Set small, achievable goals to rebuild your confidence and remind you of your capabilities. You’ll also get a sense of accomplishment each time you complete a step.
Create a “strengths journal” where you list your strengths and past achievements, and read through it regularly to reinforce your belief in your abilities and boost your confidence.
Sometimes an outside perspective can help you see things more clearly, too, so ask friends, family, or a mentor for their encouragement and perspective.
What are some daily practices to maintain and strengthen self-belief?
Maintaining and strengthening self-belief requires consistent daily practices.
Positive self-talk: Practice positive self-talk by replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations that remind you of your strengths and capabilities.
Set small goals: Set and achieve small goals to build your confidence and motivate you to tackle bigger challenges.
Embrace a healthy lifestyle: Create a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and enough rest to look after your physical and mental wellbeing.
Visualize success: Use visualization to imagine yourself achieving your goals and handling challenges with confidence.
Find community: Surround yourself with like-minded people who uplift and encourage you when times get tough.
How can I help a friend or loved one who struggles with self-doubt?
Supporting a friend or loved one who struggles with self-doubt can be helpful as they grow into a more solid and secure version of themselves. If you’ve ever received help while navigating doubt, consider giving that same love and support to your friend.
Remind them of their strengths and past successes, using positive reinforcement to boost their confidence. Be supportive by listening to their feelings and thoughts without judgment.
Help your friend set achievable goals and celebrate their progress and successes, no matter how small. Share resources such as books, articles, or courses that can help them build self-belief.
If their self-doubt is severe, suggest help from a therapist or coach who specializes in self-esteem and confidence issues. You might even offer to help them find a therapist or accompany them to their first appointment and wait in the waiting room while they have their session.
Are there specific books or resources that can aid in developing self-belief?
Several books and resources can help develop self-belief.
“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck explains the importance of having a growth mindset and how it can help you achieve your goals.
Many online platforms offer courses on self-confidence and personal development, providing structured guidance and support. Calm’s 7 Days of Self Esteem and 7 Days of Growth series are a good place to start.
Support groups and online communities can also provide encouragement and accountability as you work on building self-belief.
How long does it typically take to see improvement in self-belief with consistent effort?
With consistent effort, you might notice your self belief starts to improve in a few weeks or months, but this can vary for different people.
As you continue to practice self-belief strategies, the positive effects will accumulate, and by consistently setting and achieving small goals, your confidence will likely grow, too.
Stay patient and committed to your personal growth and self-belief. Celebrate each milestone you achieve along the way. You’ll get there — no doubt.
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