Self-doubt is always present and it’s such an awful little demon, especially in tough times like these. I deal with this little devil every time I’ve ever presented, pitched, or spoken in front of people. There’s a big part of me that knows I can do this well and believes in my talent, but there’s also this nasty voice in the back of my head that handily disagrees saying: what if this is the one time you screw this up? Conquering it is like repeatedly climbing the same mountain. Sometimes you just don’t know if you’ve got it in you and you’re afraid the talent was never there in the first place.
The hardest part about self-doubt is its merciless and reoccurring nature. No matter how many times you beat it back it still rears its ugly head. There’s no trick or quick fix advice I can give you. No magic words or meditation ritual. The only way to slay the dragon is to live with it. Get comfortable with it.
Think of the movie “A Beautiful Mind” with Russell Crowe. As Crowe’s character struggles with schizophrenic delusions, he realizes he can’t make them go away. The only way he can move on with his life and achieve his goals is to live with them. He knows they are there, but doesn’t let them dictate his life. It’s the same with self-doubt, all we can do is live with it, know it’s there and not let it get the best of us.
Mastering public speaking is all about managing fear and the doubt it brings. It’s only fear that can stop you from giving presentations and pitches to your best possible potential. If you have the mental discipline to keep working, you can function and thrive regardless of the situation. We choose what rules our lives and have full power over our demons. You certainly don’t have to love or even like them, but if you can learn to live with your demons you’ll realize they will only stop you if you let them.