Overcoming the 'I'm Not Good Enough' Narrative
Success is subjective and up to you to define. That said, I doubt you or anyone else defines success as any version of their most critical inner thoughts.
The ‘I’m not good enough’ self-talk has always been my achilles heel. It also happens to be one of the most common forms of self-doubt.
Like all of our stories, they turn into beliefs and root deeply into our neuropathways. The longer we’ve had them, the deeper the roots and the more work it takes to rewire them.
Our brains also seek ‘data’ to support our beliefs. For example, when I believe I’m not good enough, I focus on the ‘evidence’ that supports that, conveniently ignoring the counter-evidence.
The result? Diminished confidence, holding back, playing small, and letting opportunities pass us by.
If this is a familiar inner narrative, I’d suggest considering the following confidence-building tools:
Borrow confidence from people you admire until you believe it for yourself.
Look for historical evidence to prove the counter-argument (that you are good enough).
Create a ‘hype file’ which is a a physical or digital folder of the nice things people say about you. Reference it when you’re in a confidence dip.
Take action. True confidence is built through doing, not thinking about it. We often think we need to be confident, then act. The opposite is true.
Let’s start with number 1 now: you’ve got this. You’re enough!
How do I know that? Because you’re a human and we’re all born enough. Don’t believe the lies your brain is telling you (which perhaps are rooted in messages from people in your earlier life). That’s not yours to carry anymore and it’s not serving you.