“How Do You Continue Forward When Doubt Creeps Into Your Mind?”

Asking For a Friend

Full Question:
“When you are about to embark upon a journey of a lifetime, one that will be identified with you even after you’re gone, how do you continue forward when doubt creeps into your mind?”

– This question was submitted anonymously by someone like you –

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

Babe Ruth

Read that again. Maybe even memorize it! Anxieties make me feel trapped, incapable, inadequate, uncertain, afraid, and confused. Many times, this quote helps me through.

3 Steps That Help During Anxious Times

STEP 1: Listen to the Great Bambino & Breathe!
STEP 2: Remember who you are striving to become
STEP 3: Commit to Never Giving Up!

Okay! Okay! So, it’s not that simple. Facing anxieties takes guts! You have to muster up the courage AND hold onto invisible hope for dear life.

To help in holding on, it’s important to mention that doubt arises before, during, and after the application of good ideas. I say that to normalize fear, but in doing so please don’t allow your reasonable anxieties to stop you from doing a good thing. Instead, let’s recognize a few fear-based thoughts, such as:

What if I fail? What if this becomes something that defines me as something I am not? What if I don’t like the person I am or the changes I’ll have to live with?

Will my family be proud? Will I become an embarrassment? Will this help me be who I am trying to become?

Am I good enough for all this? Is this something I really want? Do I have what it takes? What will others think? Am I really sure this is a good idea? What if people hate me for it?

Since “what if” is the universal sign for My Fear is Freakin’ Raging this is when I choose to implement Step 1 – Breathe! Breathe in for 5 seconds and then breathe out for 8. I find specific patterns work best when trying to calm myself down. Breathing grounds my emotions which settles my mind on more important questions, such as:

Who are you?
Who are you without your occupation?
Who are you outside your family?
Who are you beyond your relationship status?
Who are you without your age?
Who are you when you have sinned?
Who are you outside your dreams, opinions, and thoughts?

These may seem impossible to answer considering we live in a world that defines each individual by what they do, wear, think, support, etc. However, when I take a minute to strip myself of all those things, I still find strength, experience intelligence, and feel love within myself by simply existing. Brene Brown helps those who feel less than without those things, reminds us all –

There are no prerequisites for worthiness.

Brene Brown

So how do we start to believe that? How do we find the strength within ourselves when our anxieties are taking up all our energy?

What if you followed your next what-if-fear thought with a what-if-hope clause –

What if this moment was the very moment you were created for?

Asking this question is the first step. Believing it is another. So let’s talk.

In the hard times, you’re the one that shows up. When you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and stretched thin you’re the one that chooses to stick it out. When you want to chase after a dream, you create worth in that endeavor by merely existing – which isn’t a ticket to settle for less. It is the reason to keep on going.

Your legacy will only be enough if “you” are part of the equation. You are evidence that your life is worth living. You are the value behind every worthwhile thing you do. So go ahead, doubt your plans because plans can change. Doubt your methods because there are a million to choose from. Doubt your choices because you are human. But whatever you do, never doubt that with God you are capable of becoming great, achieving more, overcoming failure, and loving people through every part of life! Isn’t that remarkable? If legacies cannot exist without you creating them, and life has no meaning without you living through each day, and actions cannot take place without you then I ask you this – How did you forget your worth?

Step 3 – Never give up

Claiming the power to do things despite x, y, and z is accessible to anyone with an ounce of a dream. Despite my raging thought that I will fail, I will try. Despite the fact my family doesn’t think I can, I will try! Despite my insecurities and uncertain future, I will try! Despite the fact I have messed up, fallen short, or disappointed people in my past, I will try.

You are about to embark upon a journey of a lifetime, one that will be identified with you even after you’re gone! What an exciting time! Especially because if it is rooted in righteousness, you have the support of a divine, all-powerful, loving God who is always up for doing a good thing. So please dare to do a good thing, despite the doubt!

Breathe!
Remember who you are striving to become!
Never give up!