How to fight doubt?
 

I have a few goals written down that I'm always trying to visualize and act like I have already achieved them in order for the subconscious to pick up and act on them. However, I find myself doubting these goals sometimes and questioning the likelihood of me achieving them... how do I deal with that?

The consistant and repetitive application of courage at all times possible. :)

Keep on doing what you are doing. You know the doubting is destructive. You say you are TRYING to visualize and acting as if. Trying is not good enough, you visualize and keep believing that you will achieve your goals.

If you continue to have doubts maybe you should start with a smaller goal that you can believe you will achieve. Then set larger and larger goals.:D

Starting with fewer or smaller goals might help, but think of this:

How is doubt helping you at all? Doubt is a form of fear: you're afraid you won't succeed. Will being afraid that you won't succeed help you in any way to be successful? If not, then ditch it. Just put it out of your mind, and keep hammering away at productive activities until you reach your goal.

I say ask yourself: why do I believe in these goals? Find out the reasons and make sure these are all rational reasons, anchored in reality.

If you have no strong reasons, then self doubt is good. It's telling you that you are daydreaming and being unrealistic.

If you have strong reasons to believe in your goals, then work on sinking them into your mind every time you have doubts.

Break down to smaller goals and ACT. There is no better motivation and there isn't a better technique than this. It helps you to focus on one small thing and you forget about the rest of heavy stuff that you think you never finish.

Most importantly: If you break a goal in minigoals and finish all those minigoals(ultimately finishing the goal), you can compare your old doubts with your new reality. Those doubts were false, it was just your head playing games on you, and you tricked it. This reinforces your inner voice and when new doubts arise you can more easily hush them away ("hey, Ill just break this down like I did last time and finish it like I finished before, did it once, will do it again and you just shut up").

I doubt now and there EVERY DAY but I already developed those techniques so I can keep on marching. Otherwise I would get nowhere.

Hi 3afash..

Along with the other poster's suggestions I have a couple to add..

From my past experience, I think doubting is very normal, especially when we try something new.

One idea is to practice visualizing that you already achieve your goal, but do it separately.

Just spend time imagining that you already have what you want and the feelings that go with it, and when the doubts (which are already occurring) appears, you can work with it anyway you want, the idea is to train your mind to accept the image and the feelings.

Do it over and over again in your free time or just to practice and see if it helps shifts or change your perspective.

I also recall a technique where you link a past similar success to the goal you have now, which boosts and helps the subconscious to accept it.

And finally folks, perhaps mentally replaying the what you written down with all the emotions as you drip off to sleep can help too..

That's it, take care and good luck..

Just act. Do not think about the future, not 5 minutes from this moment, not 10, not even 2 years, but keep awareness in the present moment and act.

Wonderful post. Thank you for sharing that. I am always caught up in the ultimate scenario and the doubts of how to get from here to there come flooding in. But now I think I will set these mini-goals which will turn me in the direction of that ultimate scenario. Starting today!!

What an excellent post. There is such a common theme here to squash all doubt and trample over it. The general advice is think positive, don't be fearful and keep looking up.

Why can't doubt, like fear, be viewed as a friend when dealt with in the framework that Eduard suggests? This is a PD forum and should have groundings in reality. If your goal was to become an astronaut (and for circumstances known to you, that's unrealistic) it makes no sense to break down goals to achieve it. Setting smaller goals of buying a spacesuit, learning about zero gravity and so forth will still be pointless and a waste of time if the final goal is not realistic.