A Simple Short Cut to a Happier Life
Banishing the Shadows of Doubt and Fear
If you’ve ever faced any kind of setback, you’ll probably be all too familiar with the doubts and insecurities that seem to follow in the wake of any defeat. It’s as if we accept the setbacks as evidence that our lives are somehow destined to disappoint and frustrate our ambitions. Many of us see our problems as inevitable and interpret them as evidence that we’re not really supposed to succeed. And, especially during challenging times, this is the kind of attitude that persuades too many to quit or to reduce their efforts – because they lose faith in their goals and dreams. They begin to harbour doubts that their plans for a brighter, healthier future can ever be achieved.
It might not be obvious but the real problem is that the doubts were already present, hidden in the dark recesses of our hearts and minds, lurking beneath the surface, just waiting for something to go wrong before they emerge like unwanted guests at a wedding feast, fully intent on spoiling everything and demolishing our dreams.
The fact is – we all have doubts. The challenge is to recognise them and then limit their influence upon our lives.
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
― William Shakespeare
The origins of our deeply-held doubts can often be traced to those early childhood days when we were taught not to expect too much from life. It was perhaps an innocent attempt to protect us from disappointment. But, if you grew up in a family that was suspicious of money – and especially suspicious of anyone who had any kind of wealth – it’s surprisingly easy to feel uncomfortable around any kind of financial success. These early, conditioned behaviours sow the seeds of future doubt and call our precious ambitions into question. That’s when we feel strangely excluded from the ranks of those ‘others’ who seem destined to achieve everything that their heart’s desire.
This is the real problem with doubt. It feeds into our insecurities and erodes our confidence. It silently confirms our deep-set fears and mocks our ambitions. It whispers darkly in the depths of our hearts and reminds us that we’ll never be truly worthy of success. One minor setback and we throw up our arms in despair and quit the race. Because ‘it was never meant to be.’ This is the poisonous effect of doubt that seeks to undermine our efforts and derail our plans.
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.
― Suzy Kassem
The first step is to recognise that these doubts exist. They might not be obvious but they’re still capable of derailing your best-laid plans.
The antidote, however, is not to adopt a blind and unquestioning certainty. We still need to retain a healthy degree of cynicism that preserves our objectivity. We need to be free to question anything that crosses our path. But the deeper doubts that question our worthiness need to be exposed and uprooted and neutralised.
The best clue to these largely hidden aspects of our personalities can be found in our emotional responses. When you ask yourself how you really feel about success, for example, you might be surprised to discover unexpected feelings about the people who’ve achieved major success in their lives. Any hint of jealousy, resentment or a burning sense of injustice will reveal insights into how you really feel about success. When you feel comfortable about success in other people’s lives, you’re more likely to feel comfortable about success in your own. The same principle applies to the delicate subject of money and financial reward. As you identify any discordant feelings about your goals and ambitions, you’ll be able to take steps to free yourself from their pernicious influence.
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
- Dale Carnegie
Many people have resolved the stubbornness of their deeper doubts by adopting a simple but powerful personal mantra to repeat throughout the day. If you’d like to adopt this very simple but highly effective technique, it usually involves regular repetition of a phrase that declares in simple terms that you feel truly worthy of happiness, success and financial reward. These new, emotionally-driven declarations gradually filter into the subconscious and provide a more positive framework for future behavioural patterns and emotional responses. Problems and setbacks will still show up. That’s the nature of life. The difference is that the problems can now be accepted as the natural by-products of your efforts to make progress every day along the pathway towards your goals.
Once you begin to exorcise the phantoms of your hidden fears and doubts, the problems will no longer have any power to deter you from your dreams. They will no longer trigger your old doubts and fears. You’ll be free to devote your energy towards resolving and removing the obstacles that you’re bound to encounter along your pathway. Your determination, confidence and commitment will remain perfectly and beautifully intact.
Kill the snake of doubt in your soul, crush the worms of fear in your heart
and mountains will move out of your way.
- Kate Seredy
Many have discovered that the best antidote to their fears is to take the next step forward and let action be their constant companion as a way to promote courage and eliminate doubt and fear.
Nurturing a feeling of confidence and a deep belief in your ability to overcome the odds and succeed against life’s inevitable challenges have always been the hallmarks of success. Make today the day when you banish the shadows that doubt that would otherwise hold you back from expressing your true potential. Break free. Smile in the face of adversity. Look to your heart and feel the reassuring power of your new-found belief in your worthiness to fulfil all your dreams and ambitions.
An exciting and inspiring future awaits you beyond the noise in your mind, beyond the guilt, doubt, fear, shame, insecurity and heaviness of the past you carry around.
- Debbie Ford
ARE YOU READY TO DISCOVER YOUR OWN UNIQUE BRAND OF FREEDOM?
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