While hope springs eternal, doubt lingers and lingers and lingers, not actually saying you can’t do something, just that “hmmm, probably not, you might try but come on really you won’t be successful”. That little voice inside that squashes hope but isn’t complete outright despair.

I have had that voice crop up every now and then, just sneaking in little doubting feelings when trying new things, or sometimes when I am relaxing and I feel doubt creeping in. At first it caught me off guard, but now I am prepared. I have post it notes all around my work space, I keep a lovely paper plate that is full of positive comments about me that I received in April. The plate was an exercise from the leadership component of my masters program, and it gives me a boost when I need it.

In arming myself, I reflected on what is going on in my life, where my thoughts are landing to determine what fuels the doubt monster. I see that doubt comes to visit me most often when I think about the future, the what will I do with my education question. The piece I am missing is of course, the inability to see what opportunities will arise, who will I meet, how will it all play out. To kick my doubt to the curb, or to doubt the doubt, I have begun to stop my thoughts, read my plate, reflect on my values and move my mind away from doubt to calmness and to bring myself back into the moment.

I wonder though what others do when doubt creeps in, how do you get back to the moment, and if anyone has a way to shut up doubt please share. This is one visitor I am getting sick of coming back.