The problem with doubt

I’ve always loved watching people doing things that require complete and utter faith in what their body is capable of doing.

So, things like gymnastics and the amazing diving routines that you see at the Olympics.

And parkour.

It puts me slightly on edge to watch it, but I’m drawn to it because the people doing it make it look so effortless.

I’ve never been very good at these things myself, I can’t even do a cartwheel, let alone a backflip.

And I think a big part of that is fear.

I’ve never trusted that I might be able to do it.  I stop myself from really going for it, because I don’t believe I’ll be able to do it.

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy really.

And I think it applies to so much more than cartwheels and backflips.

I think it applies to most things in life.

When you doubt yourself and your abilities you stop yourself from reaching your true potential.

Think of it this way, if you’re heading out to a baby group for the first time, and you go there believing that you’ll have a great time and that you’ll quickly get chatting to other mums, then you’re likely to feel confident when you walk in and to project a friendly, open personality that will make it more likely that people will chat with you.

If, on the other hand, you go in there doubting you’ll enjoy it, and instead believing that no one will talk to you and you’ll never make any mum friends, then you’ll feel nervous and uncomfortable and give off an unapproachable vibe, meaning people will be much less likely to come over and chat with you.

See, so much of the time, what we believe about ourselves, about the world, about life is true, mainly because we believe it to be true.

I’m ready to start shaking up some of my beliefs and see how my world can changes.

I mean, I’m not convinced that I’ll be able to fly no matter how much I believe I can do it, but maybe I can master a cartwheel!