You stop, you start, you set goals, and then you abandon them again and again. Why is it so hard to realize your dreams?

The answer is buried in self-doubt. When you question yourself or your ability to get things done, you put the brakes on progress. After all, if you’re only going to fail, why even try?

The key is to stop self-doubt in its tracks immediately and get out of your own way. Read on to find out how.

Remind Yourself No One is Looking

One of the enormous ways self-doubt gets to us is we start worrying about how others see us. We think the world is watching and waiting for us to fail. 

Here’s a newsflash: everyone is so caught up in their own lives. Very few people are paying attention at all. 

Have a Conversation

Self-talk is incredibly deceptive, which is why we start believing it so quickly. When you listen to those negative messages, it can derail you completely, especially if those messages start sounding reasonable. 

Here’s when you need to stop yourself immediately, notice the negative self-talk and turn it around to the positive. 

Take a More Optimistic Approach

Self-doubt is a negative state. When you find yourself doing more tearing down than building up internally, it’s time for a shift in mood. Take a few minutes for yourself to meditate, listen to music, take a walk, or otherwise engage the senses differently. 

Focus on doing things to build a more positive mood. Self-doubt can’t touch an optimistic spirit!

Stop Making Comparisons

A nasty source of self-doubt is social media. Everyone shares the best of what they have. Instead of comparing yourself to other people, why not take a little different approach? Compare your situation today to where you were last month or last year. You’ve come a long way! Focus on this instead.

In the end, the quickest way to put an end to self-doubt is to simply pay attention to it long enough to derail it entirely with a new thought. You simply don’t have time for self-doubt in your life. Once it’s stopped, the sky is the limit, and you’re ready to experience success like you never have before.

Remember, you got this!