At the beginning of the year, I knew that I wanted to enter this year differently and come out of it a better person. Having more knowledge and more confidence in my craft. I just didn’t know how to do that. Reading all the books. Saving all the posts. Listening to all the podcasts. Yet, I still thought I didn’t know enough. I knew it was going to be hard to do it by myself but I was willing to do the work. No one feels confident 100% of the time. We all go through cycles of preparation that come with questions that we don’t know how to answer. Yet, we are determined to take a step out of our comfort zones to learn that new skill or that new activity. The first time of doing something new creates butterflies in our stomachs. It’s normal.
Overcoming insecurity is something that each of us face. Whether it is about our personal or a professional lives, we are always going to experience feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty as we question our capabilities. It can happen in all areas of our lives. Once we start to have feelings of self-doubt, it can breed a mindset of scarcity and affect our overall well-being. Over this past year, I realised that what I’m afraid of is never as bad as what I had imagined it to be. The fear that I have conjured up in my mind tends to be worse than the actual situation. This is what insecurity does to us. It creates imagined scenarios that take a hold of us to a point that can lead to unhealthy habits. It is possible to overcome insecurity and here are my tips.
Face Your Feelings
Facing your feelings is probably one of the hardest steps. I believe it is paramount in order to handle insecurities. Ask yourself why you are feeling insecure in the first place and then try to figure out the source of that feeling. By breaking the first chain in the link, you will be able to make the necessary changes. For example, I felt insecure when it came to content creation because I felt like an imposter. I was afraid that I wasn’t going to do well like other creators. I realised that my insecurities were valid. By identifying that I was able to put something in place to help me overcome that everyday. My progress and growth. Identify the root of your insecurity. Do something that will help challenge it and change it so it doesn’t fester.
Take It One Step At A Time
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your insecurity will not disappear in a day. Once you have figured out the root of it, try to do something every day that will help you gradually overcome that insecurity. By taking it one step at a time and not going at it all at once, you are giving yourself permission and grace to embrace that process at your own pace. For example, I had to learn to face my fear. I started taking photos of myself in public settings. I stopped hiding out in my flat. It was a gradual process and I’m still not finished yet. I moved from my flat to my car park and then a place close by. The aim is to get comfortable. Eventually, it will become second nature.
Setting small goals is the best way to make progress. Celebrate the courage and the effort that you are doing every day to get yourself out of your comfort zone become more confident. Overcoming and handling your insecurity is a journey and one that deserves to be celebrated.
Challenge and Change Your Beliefs
Your beliefs about yourself and the world is the key of unlocking the hurdle of overcoming your insecurities. If you believe that you are not capable of what you currently fear, you are operating from a place of scarcity and limits. If you change your thoughts and shift your perspective to believing that you are more than capable, you’re worthy of it and you are confident, you will be.
It’s all about changing your mindset and stop feeding your mind with negative self-talk. You need to operate from a place of abundance and feed your mind with empowering statements about yourself. Our minds are so powerful. If your mind believes it, your body will follow and you will see what you believe in every area of your life. I speak and write words of affirmations to myself every day. I’ve been a place where negative self-talk was suffocating me to the point that I did not know how to get out of it. Don’t do that to yourself. Feed your mind and reform your beliefs.
Journal Your Progress
Journalling your journey to overcoming insecurity is one of the most beautiful things you can do to keep track of your progress. Set time aside to sit down and write out your goals, things that you are grateful for, three positive things about yourself, your achievements for that day and positive things that people have said about you.
Every few weeks, go back and see how far you have come in your journey. You’ll be surprised by the progress that you have made. Your journalling time is a time to get in touch with your naked self and work through any internal links to the source of your insecurity. I love to spend 5 to 10 minutes every morning noting down what I am a grateful for, the self-care activities that I’m going to do for the day, my goals, my intentions and affirmations for the day. Spend time with yourself before opening yourself up to the distractions of the world.
Remember that overcoming insecurity is a journey. They may surface again over time but you will be able to confront it head on because you have done it before. Next time around, you may do it even better and not allow that feeling to plant its weeds into your mind. Take the time to discover yourself and remember that you are worth it!
These are my four tips to overcoming insecurity. Save this post for later and share it with a friend who needs some tips to help them in their journey. I’d love for this post to be a resource for you and others. Please feel free to share any of your tips in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter to get notified for future blog posts and exclusive content.
Until next time,
Folakemi
