Coping with doubt when you're building your business

This is especially for women solo professionals and may be suffering from doubt and insecurity about their worth and ability to succeed. By definition a solo professional is someone who is alone in their business and that can be an unsettling place to be especially if you’re starting out. As I reflect on 2 years of business ownership, I remember what an emotional roller coaster I was on that first year. One minute I knew I was doing the right thing and the next minute I was full of doubt. I was on my knees praying a lot that first year. Those moments of doubt are fewer and further between now but they still come up from time to time so I wanted to share some of the ways I’ve learned to handle it.
1) Acknowledge your feeling and recognize it for the lie that it is. We were not created to feel less than and not good enough. When you start to feel this way remember that you were made with unique gifts and that you are perfect just the way you are. You must know that feelings of doubt are just that, a feeling and not the truth. Feelings of doubt rob us of the ability to be who we were meant to be and rob others of the gifts that we have for them.
2) Remember that this will pass. No feeling is forever so it helps if you don’t fight it but take it for what it is, a bad feeling that will go away and life will go on as normal soon. This is a good time to slow down and take extra good care of yourself.
3) Surround yourself with others who are in the same situation. It can seem like you are all alone and the only feeling this way but I can guarantee you that you are not alone and that it is perfectly normal to experience these feelings. The key is to surround yourself with positive people who will help lift you up and not focus on the bad feelings but will help you find a solution. There is strength in building an army of supporters who know exactly how you are feeling and can help you see the truth.
Someone just posted a photo on Facebook this morning with the quote “I used to be afraid of people saying, “Who does she think she is?” Now I have the courage to stand and say, “This is who I am.” – Oprah Winfrey. Even Oprah felt that way once! I bet once in a while she still might.
Beyond the suggestions above, keep taking the right actions consistently and repeatedly even if you don’t feel inspired. Doubt wins when we stop taking the right actions. The best way to diminish doubt for good is to prove it wrong. So, my encouragement for you this week is that if you are feeling doubt you will acknowledge it, remember it will pass, talk to someone supportive and keep doing the next right thing. Remember, you can achieve whatever you believe as long as you are willing to work for it!