The Kryptonite to Promise and Potential

The biggest block to achieving our possibilities feeds on our insecurities. That monster in the night, self-doubt, haunts us all. But it can only reign when we foster its habitat. Seek your possibility to dismantle self-doubt.

Oh no, I can’t. It’s too hard. I don’t have the time. They can do it better. I’m not that good at it. Other things have to take priority. What if I fail? Or get lost? Or waste the precious time I have?

Do any of these sound familiar? My guess is that yes, you are on intimate terms with these phrases. You’ve probably uttered them more often than naught.

Self-doubt.

That notorious dream-killer and smasher of potential. It seems to never sleep, invading our thoughts when we seek rest or peace. It causes us to pause, delay, or never venture out beyond the safe zone. The kryptonite to promise and potential, it’s infected us all. We all at some levels are guided by self-doubt.

But gah—it’s frustrating. And so, here’s something to stew on: self-doubt can only reign when you foster the habitat it thrives in.

Self-doubt is within us; it is not an external force. It thrives on the emotions we desperately try to keep bottled up. Fear, low self-confidence, anxiety, sadness, grief…

How do we take the power away from self-doubt? Let’s start with a simple question.

If you could do one thing, and one thing only (‘your possibility’), that would make you happy without anyone to witness you doing or attempting it, what would it be?

Is it a new hobby? Branching out into something you’ve never done before? A new career path? Meeting new people? Taking a step back instead of a step forward?

Got it in your mind? Good. Before you finish reading this sentence, you are probably already thinking about all the reasons why you can’t do ‘your possibility’. Wrong! That’s what self-doubt wants to flood your mind with.

Instead, I want to ask what happens if you do ‘your possibility’. This is what happens:

• You find your purpose.

• You make ripples in this world.

• You positively affect the future.

• You inspire others.

• You find peace.

Your possibility will lead to all these things. And here’s a little secret: your possibility doesn’t have to be huge to have all these things happen. The small things still lead to the same destination.

It will not always be easy, but it will always be worth it.

We are given one life. Live it without regret.

So let’s go over those phrases that began this article and examine them again.

• Oh no, I can’t. Yes, you can. You are the one holding yourself back.

• It’s too hard. It may not be easy, but instead of looking at it as one giant leap, break it into a hundred forward steps.

• I don’t have the time. If you have time to read this article, you have the time. Make a plan.

• They can do it better. Really? You can’t declare a winner until the race is started, and it hasn’t started yet.

• I’m not that good at it. That’s a cop-out. You will never know until you try. And sometimes trying one thing leads to trying a slightly different but no less significant interest.

• Other things have to take priority. Make time for what is important to you. If we give 100% of ourselves, there is nothing of us left. You, yourself, are valuable. Prioritize your own growth.

• What if I fail? What if you get up one more time than you’re knocked down?

• Or get lost? The most memorable places are the ones we find along the way, off the beaten path.

• Or waste the precious time I have? Yes, what if you waste the precious days of your life by not taking a leap of faith?

We don’t always know what lies around the bridge’s curve. But I want to walk its length to find out.

I hope to see you there.