How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Succeed in Business

The Day I Almost Didn’t Start My Career

I remember the day I almost didn’t start my private practice.

I was sitting in my car outside my office—well, the office I would be renting if I could get myself to walk inside and sign the lease.

I had the money. I had the degree. I had the training.

But all I could think was:
What if I’m not good enough?
What if people realize I don’t actually know what I’m doing?
What if I fail, and everyone sees it happen in real time?

It wasn’t a new fear. It was the same one that had whispered in my ear before every major step I had taken. And I knew that if I listened to it—if I let it win—I’d still be sitting in that car ten years from now, watching someone else build the career I was too afraid to claim.

So I took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked in.

And that, right there, is the only difference between people who succeed and people who don’t. Not talent. Not intelligence. Not luck.

It’s the ability to move forward despite the doubt.

The Psychology of Self-Doubt: Why We Hesitate

Self-doubt isn’t just a bad habit—it’s a survival instinct.

Your brain is wired to protect you from failure, rejection, and embarrassment. It would rather keep you in the safety of what’s familiar than risk stepping into the unknown.

Psychologically, this is tied to impostor syndrome, a well-documented phenomenon where highly competent people underestimate their abilities and overestimate the risk of failure.

But here’s the paradox:

The more capable you are, the more self-doubt you might experience.

Why? Because high performers tend to have a heightened awareness of what they don’t know. They see the gaps, the nuances, the potential for mistakes. And that awareness can create paralysis.

But the problem isn’t the doubt itself—it’s what you do with it.

How to Rewire Your Brain for Confidence

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. And as a therapist, I’ve seen what actually works—not just in theory, but in real-life transformations.

1. Understand That Feelings Aren’t Facts

Just because you feel unqualified doesn’t mean you are.

Your brain is great at making up stories. “I’m not good enough” is just a thought—not a fact. The key is to notice the thought without believing it.

Try this: The next time self-doubt creeps in, say, “Ah, that’s my brain trying to keep me safe.” Create distance between yourself and the thought. Don’t engage with it. Let it pass.

2. Reframe Doubt as a Sign of Growth

If you’re experiencing self-doubt, it means you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. That’s a good thing.

In therapy, we call this cognitive reappraisal—changing how you interpret a situation. Instead of seeing doubt as a red flag, see it as proof that you’re expanding.

Instead of “I feel unsure, so I should wait,” shift to: “I feel unsure, so I must be on the right track.”

3. Stop Searching for Certainty—Act First, Adjust Later

High achievers often fall into the trap of analysis paralysis. They wait for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, the perfect level of certainty.

But certainty doesn’t come before action—it comes from action.

In therapy, we use behavioral activation—a technique where action precedes motivation. Instead of waiting to feel confident, take the smallest possible step forward. Let confidence catch up.

4. Use “Future You” to Make Decisions

One of my favorite techniques in therapy is self-distancing—making decisions from the perspective of your future self.

Imagine it’s five years from now. You’ve built the business, achieved the success, made the impact. Look back at today’s decision.

What would that version of you tell you to do?

Listen to them. They know more than you think.

5. Identify the Root Fear (and Challenge It)

Self-doubt is rarely about competence. It’s usually about fear of rejection.

Ask yourself: If I take this step, what am I really afraid of?

• Fear of judgment? (People will think I’m not qualified.)

• Fear of failure? (I’ll lose money, credibility, or respect.)

• Fear of success? (If this works, I’ll have to sustain it.)

Once you name the fear, challenge it. Is it actually true? What evidence do you have? Most fears, when examined, lose their power.

Final Thought: Confidence Is a Byproduct of Courage

I wish I could tell you that after signing that lease, I never doubted myself again.

But that’s not how this works.

Self-doubt doesn’t go away when you succeed. It just upgrades.

Every time you reach a new level, it will whisper the same old fears, just with bigger stakes.

Your job isn’t to get rid of the doubt. It’s to act anyway.

Because on the other side of action is the version of you who no longer hesitates. And that’s the person who succeeds.