From Self-Doubt to Self-Worth

I started writing actively on LinkedIn last year and I must admit, I was scared as hell to begin. It took me months of journaling to finally gather some courage to publish my first post.

I was constantly questioning my own credibility to create thought leadership content. My saboteurs were none other than my own inner fears and self limiting beliefs. I had created an imaginary boundary around me, convinced that I was not prepared to cross those limits.

The thought of being ill prepared for my first step wasn't such a concealment of facts after all. I just wasn’t ready. Though that's just the whole point of challenging yourself, isn't it? It won't be pushing the comfort if it was all too comfortable after all.

Of course it doesn't mean that you don't proactively plan and organize as much as you can since that's all part of effective execution but that very first step out in the unknown does require an element faith and courage. You just need to take that plunge, and what really helps you overcome your fears when you do that is a strong sense of purpose and attachment towards your 'why'. It must absolutely be there for you to create that mad desire to challenge your own limiting beliefs.

"Who are you to talk about this?", your inner critic would object. "There are many more accomplished people out there. Why should anyone take you seriously." This is a classic example of self limiting beliefs, where we create imaginary boundaries around us, convincing ourselves that it is not within our ability to cross those limits.

The thing to realize is that you have a unique value proposition. Who you are, no one else will be. From the time of your birth till now, all the situations you have faced, hurdles you had to overcome, barriers you had to break, the mistakes you made along the way, the little wins you had, everything is unique to just you. No one else has walked your path.

Your identity is unique. And everything unique has it’s own value. As long as what you write about is true to who you are, it is unique and offer a value.

The question is: do you see your value though?

We often fall victim of undervaluing ourselves.

"But that’s not enough", you might say. "I have hardly accomplished anything worthy of sharing. I have nothing valuable to offer".

You not seeing the value in your present self is a problem of low self esteem. You await your future self to have more achievements to recognize that value.

"Only then I’ll have something worthwhile to contribute. Right now, I’m not worthy. I have nothing to offer.” We all experience this inner critic. We down play our achievements and over hype our failures. We’re our biggest critics, bringing ourselves down at every opportunity we get.

It you're someone who wants to take control of your life and turn a new page, then this one single shift will take you a long way.

You just need to start being your biggest supporter and stop being your biggest critic. Because if you don't support yourself, no one else will!