Challenging our inner voice
- Philip Brophy
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
Positive thinking in practice • 3 min read
Research carried out by the British Heart Foundation revealed that over half of British citizens don’t venture outside of their comfort zones and almost half (45%) fear that one day they could live to regret it.
Also revealed was that over half (55%) of people stick to the same routine day in, day out, and almost a third (31%) can’t remember the last time they tried something new or stepped out of their comfort zone.
Introduction
We’ve looked at how regulating our negative feelings by challenging our inner voice can help to establish a more reflective assessment of our actual abilities.
We’ll now take a further look at how we can build up our self-belief to harness real conviction in what we do and what we’re presenting to everyone around us.
Take the focus off your worries
Close your eyes, looking into the future, and imagining yourself several months from now, living free from all the worries that currently plague you, and you’ll feel much better when you open your eyes again. This draining of the mind is particularly effective just before sleep, when our positive thoughts will sink into our subconscious, instead of negative ones, emotionally preparing us for the next day.
Reflect on key achievements
Try focusing on past events where you felt proud or recognised. This can help channel your self-confidence levels while countering your inner critic. Could you think about your top ten achievements? e.g., speaking three languages, getting X promotion, having your idea adopted as part of a key project? Small wins count too, like the numerous times you were praised for insightful comments or ideas as part of team meetings or projects?
Have the list to hand, top shelf of your desk, in the pocket of your bag? And try taking a couple of minutes daily to reflect on these past successes. The memories will make you feel good and remind you of who you really are.
Take on things outside your comfort zone
The crux of self-belief is about being comfortable in a wide range of situations. So, by stretching your comfort zone muscle every day, you’ll soon have a large comfort zone, being at ease even when outside of it, for example, daring to raise your virtual hand in a meeting to make one point as a contribution to the conversation. The key element is to take small, daily steps.
Key takeaways
Reflect on your past wins — try having a small list to hand to counter the niggling inner critic in your head. These are crucial memories that will remind you of who you really are in your greatest moments of doubt.
Believe your goals into reality by closing your eyes and imagine a future, “worriless” you. Practise this before sleeping — when our positive thoughts sink into our subconscious — mentally preparing us for the next day.
To effectively self-believe, you need to be at ease in a range of situations. Try doing things you’re not always 100% confident doing. By frequently doing this, you’ll soon have a large comfort zone, being at ease even when outside of it.
Think big, act small
Why not ease into the process by having your best achievements to hand, always reminding yourself of your true potential when filled with irrational self-doubt.
Content sources
Forbes, 2020, Caroline Castrillon, ‘5 Strategies To Build Unshakable Self-Confidence’
Forbes, 2020, Scott Hirsch, ‘The Power Of Positive Thinking: Staying Motivated During Trying Times’
Harvard Business Review, 2021, Ann Howell, ‘How to Build Confidence at Work’
Forbes, 2013, Jacquelyn Smith, 10 Ways To Be More Confident At Work
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