How Self-Doubt Holds Us Back: Understanding the Root (2 of 5 )

How Self-Doubt Holds Us Back

Self-doubt is a silent dream-killer. It keeps us from taking risks, chasing our goals, and believing in our own potential. Understanding why self-doubt holds us back is the first step toward breaking free from its grip.

How Self-Doubt Limits Us

Fear of Failure 

The fear of making mistakes often stops us before we even start. Our brains are wired to keep us safe — not necessarily happy. So when we think of failure, the mind doesn’t focus on the event itself but on the painful thoughts that follow:

“What will people think?”

“What will my family say?

“I’ve let everyone down.”

These thoughts trigger your fight-or-flight response, keeping you stuck instead of helping you see that failure is simply redirection, not defeat.

Overthinking – Overthinking is one of self-doubt’s favorite disguises. It makes us question every step until we end up paralyzed. In The Mountain Is You, the author explains it beautifully — that overanalyzing is often a way of avoiding actually feeling the emotion. We convince ourselves that if we just understood why we feel what we feel, it might hurt less.

But the truth is, the only way out is through it, not away from it. Next time you feel overwhelmed, don’t overanalyze, just sit with it. Feel it. Let it pass.. I promise it will pass. 

Seeking External Validation and Negative Self Talk– When we depend on others for validation, we weaken our self-trust. Your worth doesn’t come from approval — it comes from within. Be your own cheerleader. Be in your own corner first. Tell yourself, “I’m proud of how far I’ve come.” Even on days when all you did was get out of bed , that counts. That’s strength too. And remember, the way you talk to yourself becomes the way you live. Speak to yourself with kindness

Comparing to Others – Comparing your journey to someone else’s highlight reel is one of the quickest ways to drain your confidence. Social media makes it easy to believe that everyone else has it all figured out  but no one is posting their low moments. The grass isn’t greener on the other side; it’s greener where you water it.

So take a deep breath, look around, and focus on your blessings today. 

Recognizing these patterns is the first step to overcoming self-doubt. By understanding its impact, we can work toward a more confident and empowered mindset. See you on Sunday where we talk about  Simple mindset shifts to build confidence! and until then if you haven't read Part 1 of the this 5 part series go check this out quickly "Breaking Through Self Doubt" 

Take care, until next time. 

-K