Ever get that gnawing feeling inside and find yourself thinking “I don’t know what I’m doing”? I get it a lot, usually as I’m embarking on a project I haven’t done before. The idea of starting the project was exciting and then as I decide to start working on it…anxiety strikes. I suddenly feel out of my depth. I have a plan but it somehow seems uphill all of a sudden. I feel uncomfortable and can already see overwhelm approaching… and I’ve only just started. Do you know what I’m talking about? When your drive and confidence melt into doubt.
Well, the good news is, this is not just us. This is what most people experience when starting something new. How do I know? Because it’s the natural workings of the human brain. Your mind is the most powerful resource you have and also the one thing that can and will prevent you from achieving the life and business you really want. Feeling out of your depth is actually a natural response from a thought you are having in your mind. The thought might be “I don’t know if I can do this” (this is a popular one) or as I mentioned before “I don’t know what I’m doing”. These thoughts are just thoughts, not facts. Our challenge in these situations is to learn to notice these thoughts and then move on without buying into them. The more we can practice doing this, the better we become at it. Next time you start to feel anxiety creeping in, ask yourself “what am I thinking right now about this situation?” If it’s something negative, just gently remind yourself that it’s just your human brain’s response to something unfamiliar. Don’t let it stop you from moving forward.