Self Trust vs. System

It's normal to feel doubt when starting something new. Nothing in life comes with a guaranteed recipe for success. Self-trust is often sold as the key to achievement, but what happens when that very confidence is missing?

Without self-trust, doubt can spiral into procrastination, small-minded thinking, or even outright giving up. The dream you once cherished risks remaining just that—an unfulfilled dream.

This is where the value of a system comes into play. A well-designed system provides stability, especially when uncertainty or fear of failure takes over. It’s natural not to be brimming with self-confidence when trying something for the first time, which makes a systematic approach far more powerful.

When I wrote my first book for example, one of the biggest mindset advice I kept hearing was the importance of "believing in yourself".

So I tried it, but I focused more on my lack of self-belief, which made me feel doubtful and now created even more problems and limitations:

I felt like something was wrong with me, and I had to fix this belief before I start the project.

The truth is, when you’re going after something you’ve never done before it will feel REALLY hard to believe in yourself.

Self doubt and insecurities ALWAYS come up, no matter which level you’re at.

So I stopped putting so much pressure on trying to believe in MYSELF and instead: I outsourced it. I outsourced my belief into a SYSTEM.

Instead of needing to believe in myself I believed in the steps of the system I KNEW worked and the power of my subconscious mind.

That’s how I was able to reprogram it with positive thoughts regardless of whether I believed them initially.

A smart system acts as a framework that outlines clear steps, regardless of how you feel in the moment. Systems that have already proven successful for others become even more valuable—they serve as both a safeguard and a guide, helping you move forward even when doubt arises. After all, if every visionary had given up at the first sign of self-doubt, most great companies wouldn’t exist today.

Every success achieved through a system builds self-confidence. Each small win becomes a building block, laying the foundation for larger successes. At the same time, a system teaches you to handle setbacks more effectively. It shows that mistakes and challenges aren’t the end of the road but opportunities to learn and come back stronger. They’re not something to be ashamed of but milestones you can proudly include in your story.

A good system, like our GLADDER? Method, offers the opportunity for reverse engineering: breaking down someone else’s success formula, learning the steps, and applying them systematically to your own journey. A system might not completely eliminate your doubts, but it ensures you keep moving forward despite them—and that’s often the key difference on the path to success.

If you’d like to learn more, send me a DM or visit https://www.bebettercoaching.org/.