#597 - Lewis Howes - How To Defeat Your Self Doubt
Mar 4, 2023
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Lewis Howes, a former professional athlete and author, provides actionable insights on overcoming self-doubt and fostering genuine confidence. He discusses the importance of reframing failure and embracing vulnerability for personal growth. Howes shares powerful stories, including lessons from an army veteran, emphasizing that true greatness often lies in uplifting others rather than individual success. He also highlights the transformative power of positive self-talk and the necessity of a supportive community for navigating life's challenges.
Overcoming self-doubt requires recognizing fears, creating a game plan, and taking imperfect action.
Balancing self-acceptance and the drive for self-improvement is key to sustainable confidence.
Strategies to overcome self-doubt include self-reflection, reshaping inner narrative, and building evidence of capabilities.
Having a strong support system and mentors can greatly contribute to personal growth and confidence.
Deep dives
Converting Fear into Confidence
The fear of failure, success, and judgment often hold us back from taking action. By converting these fears into confidence, we can overcome self-doubt and achieve our goals. This involves recognizing our fears, creating a game plan to overcome them, and taking massive imperfect action. We need to believe in ourselves and know that we are enough, while also continuously striving to improve. Confidence is built through consistent action and evidence of our capabilities.
Balancing Self-acceptance and Growth
Finding the balance between feeling like we're enough and staying hungry for self-improvement is key. Many people fear becoming complacent, so they use negative self-talk and doubt as a motivator. However, this can be toxic and unsustainable. The key is to accept ourselves, acknowledging that we may not be where we want to be yet, while maintaining a drive to grow and improve. We need to recognize that our self-worth is not solely based on external accomplishments, but also on our inherent value as individuals.
Overcoming Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk and lack of self-belief can be deeply ingrained, but there are strategies to overcome them. This begins with self-reflection, identifying the wounds and insecurities that fuel self-doubt. Creating a new contract with ourselves, affirming positive qualities and beliefs, can help reshape our inner narrative. It's important to address and heal past traumas or pains that still trigger us, integrating the past and accepting ourselves. Taking action and building undeniable evidence of our capabilities can also boost self-confidence and silence the negative self-talk.
The Importance of Support and Community
Having a strong support system and community is crucial for personal growth and overcoming self-doubt. Loneliness and isolation can intensify negative thoughts and hinder progress. Building a network of friends, mentors, or like-minded individuals who provide encouragement, guidance, and accountability can make a significant difference. Collaboration, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging contribute to greater self-confidence and overall well-being.
The Power of Having Coaches and Mentors
Having coaches and mentors is crucial for personal growth and success. Top athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant didn't achieve greatness alone; they sought out coaches and specialists to support their journey. Enlisting the assistance of coaches and mentors is not a sign of weakness, but rather a wise decision to seek guidance and receive valuable feedback that can help improve performance. By finding mentors and coaches in different areas of life, individuals can receive the necessary support and feedback to excel in those areas.
Finding Role Models and Mentors on the Internet
In the age of the internet, it is easier than ever to find role models and mentors online. Whether you live in a small town or lack a local community to connect with, you can find mentors and figures to look up to through various online platforms. These mentors can provide valuable guidance and insights, helping individuals navigate challenges and find effective paths toward personal growth and success. By seeking out mentors online, one can gain valuable knowledge from those who have already achieved what they aspire to.
Taking Action to Overcome Fears and Limiting Beliefs
Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs is essential for personal growth and achieving greatness. Taking action is a key component in this process. By actively facing fears and tackling them head-on, individuals can break free from the chains that hold them back. This may involve stepping outside of one's comfort zone and seeking opportunities to grow in areas of fear and self-doubt. Through consistent action, individuals can build confidence, expand their capabilities, and achieve personal breakthroughs.
Lewis Howes is a former professional athlete, podcaster and an author.
Many people are wildly uncertain that they can achieve the things they want in life. If a lack of confidence killed more dreams than a lack of capability ever will, how can we get past this self-doubt and find a place of genuine, positive reassurance to start working from?
Expect to learn why your heroes aren't gods, where self doubt comes from, how to discover your mission in life, what you can learn about positivity from an army veteran who had his face blown off, how to stop negative self-talk, what to do if you don't have a support group around you, whether greatness begins with an action or a mindset first and much more...
