Bismillah,

As I sit here wanting to share more with you on the topic of self-doubt, something I grapple with every so often, I’m starting to notice how insecurities work. Those whispers we get that tell us we can’t do something, or we aren’t good enough, or why bother creating or putting our work out there in the world when everyone else has done it better?

You know what, that is Shaytan. Those are shaytan’s whispers as he does what he does best, which is to belittle our efforts and make us feel insignificant. He does this as a way to set traps in front of us and it’s our job to bypass them, as we repeatedly connect our intentions back to Allah and our ultimate goals of being with the righteous in Jannah inshaAllah.

Experiencing self-doubt is not new to us. Somewhere in our past, we learned to second-guess ourselves, and to self-sabotage our hopes and dreams even before taking the first step, which then leads to procrastination, perfectionism, or giving up.

When we start experiencing self-doubt, it helps to notice what feelings or thoughts are coming our way. Your thoughts might be telling you….

• You weren’t created to do this

• You only got x number of likes or comments, just stop.

• You’ll feel judged or misunderstood

• It’s just not a priority to work on things you care about since you have so many other responsibilities .. home, work, family, life.

• You don’t have the motivation others have

• You can’t do things better or differently than what’s already out there

• You might feel you don’t have enough resources or materials to get started

• You don’t know how to reach the end goal (even thought the first step is what matters most)

• You predict how it won’t work out anyway

• You’re reminded of things that didn’t work out in the past.

The list can go on and spiral out of control. But here’s the TRUTH:

We each have a core of unique traits, talents, personal skills that are unshakable.

Allah Alimighty has blessed us with unique opportunities to use those special qualities in a way that feels right to us and we would do a disservice to our own selves by not listening to the positive whispers of our soul to do something courageous, loving, and driven by our values.

The next time you are experiencing self-doubt, consider these points:

• Remember that everyone you have ever met has struggled with self-doubt.

• Every one was once a beginner before reaching the point in their life we know them for.

• Thank your inner critic for their concern, and gently put them to the side.

• What are some reasons you want to give up? Are they real fear or perceived fears?

• What’s the worst that could happen if you gave your idea a try?

• Make a list of small wins you have already accomplished

• Circle back to your inner core of strength, love, values, and talents.

You can go even further and ask yourself:

1. What are the things I love to do? What do I find deeply enjoyable, fun, and motivating?

2. What are my natural talents? What have I been complimented on recently or in the past?

3. What are the causes that I value and care about? It could be spiritual, service, certain groups or demographics, etc.

After some reflection, go ahead, and take the first step. Don’t let the self-doubt overcome you and consider talking to a trusted friend or partner about your idea, goal, or hope. Having a support person by your side can make a world of difference.

Till next time,

Asma