One Thought to Combat Self-Doubt

I love the beginning of every new year because it’s so full of hope.

Resolutions to keep, goals to achieve, relationships to strengthen—in the first week of January, these all seem so doable.

Then after a few lapses of self-discipline or after experiencing a couple of disappointments, you begin to doubt yourself.

Can I really do it? Is it worth the effort? Is it going to be just like previous years where I didn’t follow through on the promises I made to myself?

All of us have to deal with that small, annoying voice in our head that tells us we can’t do it.

But we need to embrace the fact that although one action or event isn’t guaranteed to change our situation, it has the potential to.

Thinking this repeatedly can help us conquer our self-doubt.

Having one difficult conversation with your sibling isn’t guaranteed to heal the relationship, but it can.

Writing one book isn’t guaranteed to change the way people think about an issue, but it can.

Starting one small business isn’t guaranteed to change the world, but it can.

Cultivating one wholesome habit isn’t guaranteed to transform your life, but it can.

There’s tremendous power in focusing on the potential of one.

I once read that—as the leader of your own life—you’re a custodian of the future, so don’t let yourself become a hostage to the present.

May 2012 be a year where we build a wonderful future for ourselves and for others, a year where we refuse to be held hostage by our self-doubt, disappointments, problems, frustrations, fears and insecurities.

Happy new year.