Have you ever wanted to create something in your life that was a bit out of the comfort zone and found that you had talked yourself out of it almost as quickly as the idea entered your mind?

Perhaps you were excited about the idea when you first had it - "I'm going to have an amazing relationship!", "I'm going to find a job I love", "I'm going to live with a greater sense of peace"... then what???

That little voice of doubt shows up. "I'm not sure I am capable of doing that", "I might fail", "Maybe I should be content with what I have", "What if I'm not good enough?"... sound familiar?

Why is it that even the dreams that mean the most to us can so easily be crushed by a single doubt?

Maybe it is time you overcome this self-doubt so you can be free to create what you really want!

The truth is, if you want to create something that is beyond your current "normal", you will likely have some form of self-doubt to overcome. When you find self-doubt coming up, realize that it is natural and does not mean that you are not capable of manifesting your dream - It just means that you're human!

So how do we put this self-doubt in the back seat and take charge once again of the path toward our dreams?

Here are a few helpful tips when you find yourself coming across self-doubt:

1. Let go of the need to know HOW you will create your vision of what you want.

You likely do not know how you will create your dream, especially not in the beginning. That is the way it is supposed to be! Your intuition is how the Universe shows you the way to your dream! We often end up doubting ourselves when cant see how we can create what we want. Or, sometimes we think of one way that to create it and think that we aren't capable of doing it. Let go of this kind of thinking and trust that if you have a vision that excites you, you have within you what it takes to create it. And trust that you will be given what you need to make it a reality, when you need it.

2. Remind yourself of how important your dream is to you.

Give yourself 5 to 10 minutes of free time to spend focusing on your vision of what you want and how you will feel when you have created your dream. Let yourself feel these positive emotions and imagine that you have already created what you want and are living your vision. Let yourself get excited, these positive emotions will energize your vision and allow it come to you faster. This reminder of why your vision is important to you can help you set that doubt aside.

3. Be a witness to the voice of self-doubt.

As you notice the voice of doubt coming up, watch the thoughts that come up rather than participating in Recognize that it is the voice of the part of you that wants to keep you the same and to keep you in familiar territory. Distancing yourself from this voice can help you to gain perspective so you are still in charge and the doubting self is not. Release the need to fight it, simply allow the doubt to be expressed and move on.

4. Get the doubts and fears down on paper and out of your mind

In your mind, they tend to endlessly repeat themselves and keep you stuck. Get out a piece of paper and write out all of the doubts and fears that come to mind. On a new piece of paper write down positive statements around why you CAN create your vision. Maybe you are downplaying your strengths and abilities, list these on this paper as well. When you are done, read over the doubts one last time, then tear the paper into tiny pieces and throw it away. Read over your positive statements and let the positive emotions and a feeling of confidence take over. Feel free to read these positive statements whenever you need to remind yourself that you are capable!

5. Repeat a personalized affirmation to yourself

This will instill positive beliefs around your ability to create your vision. Make sure the affirmation feels good when you say it is meaningful to you. The better you feel when you repeat it, the faster it can become your reality. Examples: I believe in myself, I deserve to have what I want, I am safe, etc. whatever resonates with you. You can also use the positive statements you created in #4 above.

Self-doubt is likely something that you will face on the path to your dream, but that is no reason to stop moving forward. Take a few minutes to readjust your focus using the tips above and you will be feeling better and more confident, ready to move forward to your dreams once again!

Copyright (c) 2007 Fia Crandall