Stop Doubting Yourself

Read time: 6 minutes

This past Friday, I had a 30-minute one-on-one conversation with a member of Clarity Lab. They shared how they’re struggling with a big decision: transitioning out of their current career to pursue something that aligns more with the life they truly want. But like many of us, they were stuck—paralyzed by the fear of not being good enough, not measuring up, and not being worthy of the life this change would create.

Instantly, I could relate. And maybe you can too.

Maybe you’ve got a dream, a goal, or an idea that lights a fire in you, but then... that voice creeps in. The one that says, “Who are you to do this?” or “What makes you think you’re good enough?” It’s the voice of self-doubt, a sneaky, powerful force. It stops you from taking the next step, and even worse, it keeps you stuck in the same place.

I’ve felt it too—many times. Both as a poet and now, in running my own business. The fear of failure. The fear of not measuring up. The feeling of not knowing where to begin.

But here’s the truth: that voice isn’t you. It’s just fear trying to keep you safe.

The Truth No One Talks About

We constantly hear about success stories from people who “just decided” to face their fears and do it anyway:

“I just went for it, and didn’t look back.” “I took the leap before I was ready, and everything fell into place.” “I work on my side hustle from 6pm until midnight, figuring it out as I go.”

There’s nothing wrong with those things. I went for it and took a leap of faith when I left my day job. I enjoy working on my business just as much as I enjoy taking time away from it.

But when you look closer at these stories, they’re usually missing a critical factor that made the success possible in the first place—the practical choices they made to overcome the crippling power of self-doubt.

The voice of doubt often convinces us that we’re not good enough, that we’re not deserving of success, or that we’ll fail before we even start. And the worst part? The more we listen to that voice, the stronger it gets.

You’ve probably experienced it—wondering if you can make a career change, start that business, or pursue that big goal.

Self-doubt whispers, “You’re not ready,” or “What if you fail?” It makes you hesitate, question yourself, and ultimately stop you from taking the next step.

But that’s exactly why it’s so dangerous. Self-doubt convinces us that we’re not worthy, and if we let it control us, it keeps us stuck right where we are.

Why This Voice Isn’t You

To be clear, I’m a big fan of introspection and reflecting on experiences to learn the lessons that help us move forward. I believe we should practice this regularly—at least once a month—and put those learnings into action immediately if possible.

But I also believe in being realistic about how human behavior works. I know how it works from my own experience.

Here’s something that took me a while to understand: that voice of self-doubt? It’s not actually you talking. It’s fear. Fear that you’ll fail. Fear that you’ll be rejected. Fear that you’re not enough.

When you feel that doubt creep in, remember—it’s just your brain trying to keep you safe. It’s not a reflection of your true potential. In fact, it’s usually the opposite. It’s a sign that you’re stepping outside your comfort zone, and your mind is trying to protect you from something unknown.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought I wasn’t good enough to pursue my passions, whether it was writing poetry or running my own business. But every time I pushed through that doubt, I proved to myself that I was capable. And so are you.

The First Step and Why We Get It Wrong

We love to believe in the myth of willpower because we get sold on it every day:

“I can do anything if I just set my mind to it!”

“Fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real, make the choice to Face Everything And Rise.”

And I get it. I feel that rush for a while after seeing a motivational video or reading something that gets me amped. In fact, the second expression about fear comes straight from one of my YouTube video scripts. It’s the kind of stuff that puts us in the driver’s seat and makes success feel accessible.

We naturally like that kind of message because it feels friendly and uplifting. But it also sets us up for self-doubt when it’s time to roll up our sleeves and do the real work required.

And that’s where we get stuck.

Now, the first step to overcoming self-doubt isn’t some grand, heroic move. It’s just taking a small action—something so small that it feels almost insignificant. Can you guess what that step is?

It’s gathering the information you need to make an informed decision about what you’re going to do next.

I call this a knowledge check. It might be as simple as signing up for that course, sending the email, or asking questions and collecting answers.

It’s these small wins that build confidence. The more you act, the less power the self-doubt has over you. You’ll realize that the fear was never as big or as powerful as it seemed.

The Fear-Setting Exercise

So how do you practically overcome the crippling power of self-doubt?

With logic.

Instead of saying “I need to push through my fears and do it anyway,” try asking, “What can I do to minimize the chances of these fears happening?” or “If my fear were to happen, how can I reduce its impact or repair it?”

Here’s a simple exercise to gain clarity and perspective—helping you approach fear from a place of reason, not emotion.

It’s something I use myself whenever I’m paralyzed by fear.

For any fear you’re struggling with, take a moment to walk through these 6 steps and start seeing the bigger picture:

1. NAME: What are you afraid of when it comes to [insert relevant action here]?
2. DEFINE: List the worst-case scenarios that might happen.
3. PREVENT: What can I do to minimize the chances of these fears happening?
4. REPAIR: If my fear were to happen, how can I reduce its impact or repair it?
5. BENEFITS: What positive things could come from facing this fear?
6. COST OF INACTION: What’s the cost of staying in my current situation—emotionally, physically, financially, etc.—if I don’t overcome this fear? What might my life look like in 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years?

Write down your answers and see how they change the way you view your fear.

What’s On the Other Side of Self-Doubt?

Here’s the thing: the moment you break free from self-doubt, everything shifts. You’ll feel the weight lifted off your shoulders. The pressure you’ve been carrying—whether it’s about your career, your business, or your personal life—will suddenly feel manageable. Every step forward will feel lighter, and you’ll gain momentum.

You’ll realize that you are more than enough. You’ll start taking action without hesitation, and with each small victory, you’ll build more confidence.

The more you embrace your true potential, the more energy you’ll have to keep going.

The joy of living authentically will be more fulfilling than any fear could ever hold you back from.

The Bottom Line

In the long run, your self-doubt will almost always win against motivational quotes and memorable acronyms.

The best thing you can do is stop trying to be the exception to the rule. Don’t blame yourself when willpower fails. And definitely stop listening to folks who say you just have to “want it more.”

Instead, start challenging your doubts intentionally. Look for opportunities to ask questions and gather the information you need to make the right choices easier and wrong choices harder. Spend meaningful moments digging into how you can prevent your fears or repair the situation if they were to happen. What’s the cost of inaction?

Because if you roll up your sleeve and do the real work, you won’t need motivational quotes to keep going.

You’ll just need to show up. And that’s a big part of the battle.

That’s all for today.

See you next Sunday.

Cheers,
-Ron

P.S. This email was inspired by that conversation I had in the Lab this past Friday. If you feel stuck, remember you don’t have to do this alone. Share your experience with us in the Clarity Lab community. We’re here to support and help you take meaningful steps toward your goals and dreams.

In the Lab 🧪, we host live calls, workshops, focus sprints (where we rally together to hit shared goals), and much more. You also have an all-access pass to my paid courses.

There’s still time to join The Lab as a Pioneer Member at half price for life ($295/year) until the landing page goes live on my website. Send me an email, and I’ll share the link with you.