Day 6: Dramatic brains...

6/365 

Why is it so easy to doubt ourselves? And why is it so hard to stop? (Why are our brains so committed to being dramatic?) 

Interestingly, self-doubt is seen as a by product of an evolutionary tendency known as negative bias. Our brains have been wired to constantly scan for potential threats as a way for survival. As we’ve evolved, these threats have shifted from predator-versus-prey in the wilderness (for the purpose of this explanation, we are the prey), to things like overthinking whether we should start a new business or move abroad. 

The common theme here is discomfort. The problem is, when there is no immediate, life altering threat, we can still get stuck in a feedback loop because our ‘fight or flight’ system has already been alarmed. So, rationalising ourselves out of self-doubt becomes much harder. 

Okay, that is enough science from me. Here are some non-science-backed strategies that I usually employ to get over the self-doubt. Quick disclaimer - the effectiveness rate is approximately 65%, do with that what you will.  

• Write a list of the reasons you are giving yourself why something won’t work  

• Next to each reason, write a solution to each 

• Ask yourself “What is the worst that can happen?”  

• Write out how your life may look if you don’t make the change that you keep thinking about 

• Allow yourself to sit with your thoughts for 48 hours but write down the thoughts, even if it’s just complete word vomit. It doesn’t need to make sense to make you feel better 

• Hold off on asking for opinions, there’s a 50/50 chance they’ll say something you don’t want to hear and add to the weight of the self-doubt  

• Don’t pause your usual routine while you’re thinking things through. Overthinking is much more tolerable with a well-fed, well-slept body. 

• Come up with a plan on how you are going to make the change you are wanting.  

  
  

Progress doesn’t need to be glamorous — it just needs to begin.