“Confidence is not something you are born with; it’s something you create.”– John Maxwell.
Maxwell was all about confidence, leadership, and how much you know about yourself.
Do you think life is throwing one curveball after another at you… but you cannot do anything except sulk? Do you feel you deserve success… tried everything for it… but nothing worked out for you? One last question… do you love yourself?
If you don’t have answers to these questions, you should find them. Or you should keep reading and think later because your mind will be clearer after finishing this blog.
Confidence is a cornerstone of success… at least that is what everyone says. You need it whenever you want to rise in your career, take first steps to bond with your loved ones, or just face yourself in the mirror on a gloomy day.
Everyone knows that. What everyone doesn’t know is that you can learn to become confident quite easily. How? Let’s keep going to find out.
It is a constant, nagging feeling of uncertainty that you might not be able to: Do it Pull through Succeed Sounds familiar? We all have this tiny inner voice. This is what psychologists call self-doubt.
From a neuroscience perspective, self-doubt is linked to the brain’s amygdala and pre-frontal cortex. Amygdala deals with fear and anxiety while pre-frontal cortex helps you make decisions and… decide whether you like yourself or not.
These areas can trigger a cascade of negative thoughts if something overstimulates them.
The nervous system version says that self-doubt jump-starts the sympathetic nervous system. Yes, the one dealing with your fight-or-flight response. When it triggers, you can feel it physically.
How? Your heart races, you sweat (even in winters), and your body tightens painfully. This can quickly turn into a vicious cycle where:
All the above symptoms makes you tense
Tension increases your self-doubt… and the cycle goes on until you either run away or do something you don’t want to.
Self-doubt creeps upon you from any wee corner of your mind. So, it is better that you know why it happens.
Were you scolded badly because the 8-year old you left the milk carton out? Did your bully humiliate you years back in high school? These, and such other events don’t just go away with time.
They stay there and you might not know that. They can be one reason why you doubt your judgement so much.
What’s more, you carry these hidden burdens your whole life… always feeling small and unable to make a single decision about yourself. Did you know how dangerous it can be?
This belief can persist into adulthood, making them hesitant to pursue further education or career opportunities. Similarly, failures in personal relationships can lead to a fear of vulnerability and rejection, causing individuals to doubt their ability to form meaningful connections.
Over time, these past experiences create a fear of repeating the same mistakes, leading to a reluctance to take risks or step out of one’s comfort zone.
Societal pressure is another powerful force behind self-doubt. Expectations from society, family, and peers can create immense pressure to meet certain standards. Society often sets benchmarks for success, beauty, intelligence, and behaviour that can be unrealistic or unattainable.
For instance, the pressure to achieve academic excellence, secure a prestigious job, or maintain a perfect appearance can be overwhelming.
When you feel that you are falling short of these societal standards, you can have feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Furthermore, family pressures and expectations can shape our self-perception; parents who set high standards for their children, even with the best intentions, can inadvertently cultivate self-doubt if those standards feel unreachable.
Peer pressure also plays a role, as the need to fit in and be accepted by others can lead to self-questioning and insecurity.
3. Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk is an internal dialogue that reinforces feelings of unworthiness and self-criticism. This inner voice often echoes past criticisms and failures, magnifying them out of proportion. It can be insidious, quietly influencing our thoughts and behaviours without us even realizing it.
For example, after making a minor mistake at work, someone might internally chastise themselves with thoughts like, “I’m so incompetent,” or “I can never do anything right.” Over time, this negative self-talk becomes a habitual way of thinking, eroding self-esteem and confidence.
It creates a mental environment where self-doubt thrives, making it difficult to acknowledge one’s achievements and strengths.
Breaking the cycle of negative self-talk involves becoming aware of these thoughts and actively challenging and replacing them with positive affirmations. By recognizing these sources of self-doubt, you can begin to address them.
Understanding that self-doubt often stems from past experiences, societal pressures, and negative self-talk allows you to develop strategies to counteract these influences and build a more confident and resilient self-image.
The detrimental impact of self-doubt are:
Creates anxiety and stress, which can negatively affect both mental and physical health.
Reduces motivation, leading to procrastination and decreased productivity.
Damages self-esteem, making it difficult to recognize and celebrate achievements.
Impairs decision-making abilities, resulting in missed opportunities and poor choices.
Strains relationships by causing insecurity and a lack of trust in others.
Limits career advancement as self-doubt can prevent you from pursuing promotions or new job opportunities.
Develop a negative mindset, which can perpetuate a cycle of pessimism and defeatism.
Contributes to social withdrawal and isolation, as you may avoid social interactions out of fear of judgment.
Hinders personal growth and development by discouraging you from taking on new challenges.
Inhibits creativity and innovation by creating a fear of failure and rejection.
Recognizing the detrimental effects of self-doubt is the first step towards addressing it. While these impacts can be profound, the good news is that self-doubt is not a permanent state.
Hypnosis offers a powerful solution to reprogram the powerful subconscious mind, replacing self-doubt with self-belief and empowering you to reach your full potential. Now, Let’s explore the science behind hypnosis and how it can transform your confidence.
Scientists have been researching hypnosis for more than a decade now. They find it interesting that your mind “agrees” to reveal your hidden side when you go into that semi-sleepiness.
Actually, your brain is hyper-focused, hyper-concentrating, and hyper-suggestible in that state. However, it focuses within itself in that moment instead of its surroundings.
Your subconscious is your dumping ground for hidden beliefs, habits, and emotions. That’s why almost all psychological disorders happen because of “bad past”.
Hypnosis teaches you to rethink all the unpleasant things that happened to you… whether you know about them or not. It helps you change your way of seeing those scenes and suggests how you can make things better moving forward.
Most interesting thing? Your subconscious stores every suggestion and remembers it. Then, it brings them out in the form of positive reactions when you face a negative situation again.
There are several misconceptions about hypnosis:
Loss of Control: You remain in full control during hypnosis. It is not like the movies where you might be made to do anything against your will. It doesn’t happen.
Sleep-like State: Hypnosis is not the same as sleep. You are aware and can recall the session.
Instant Fix: While hypnosis can produce significant changes, it often requires multiple sessions and consistent practice for lasting results.
Hypnosis specifically targets the subconscious mind to reprogram negative beliefs about oneself. By replacing self-doubt with positive affirmations and visualizations of success, you can build a stronger sense of self-belief and confidence.
Several hypnotic techniques are effective for confidence-building:
Visualization involves creating vivid mental images of success and confidence. By repeatedly picturing yourself achieving goals and succeeding in various situations, the mind starts to believe in these scenarios as achievable realities.
This technique helps reprogram the subconscious mind to adopt a positive self-image and anticipate successful outcomes.
Hypnosis Session Example: Imagine you have an important presentation at work. Each night before bed, close your eyes and visualize yourself standing confidently in front of your colleagues, delivering a flawless presentation, and receiving applause and positive feedback.
By consistently practising this visualization, you mentally prepare yourself for success, reducing anxiety and boosting confidence when the actual presentation day arrives. Upgrading Limiting
Upgrading limiting beliefs through hypnotherapy involves accessing the subconscious mind to identify the origins of self-doubt. By uncovering and reprogramming these negative beliefs, individuals can replace them with positive beliefs.
This process enhances self-confidence and promotes a healthier self-image, empowering individuals to achieve their full potential.
Hypnosis Session Example: During a hypnosis session, the practitioner guides the client into a relaxed state. The practitioner might say, “Go all the way back to the time when you felt not enough or not good enough.
Connect with your younger self and empower them with the words, ‘You are capable and confident.’ Feel this new belief strengthening within you, empowering you in every aspect of your life.”
Suggestion therapy involves introducing new, positive ideas to the subconscious mind during a hypnotic state. A hypnotherapist guides you into a trance-like state and makes positive suggestions that align with the person’s goals.
These suggestions are absorbed by the subconscious, leading to changes in thought patterns and behaviour.
Hypnosis Session Example: Suppose you struggle with social anxiety. During a hypnotherapy session, the therapist might suggest that you feel calm and confident in social situations, enjoy interacting with others, and are comfortable expressing yourself.
These suggestions help reframe your subconscious beliefs about social interactions.
Outside of therapy, you can reinforce this by listening to a self-hypnosis recording with similar suggestions before attending social events.
By integrating these techniques into daily routines, you can gradually build a more confident and resilient self-image, effectively overcoming self-doubt and unlocking your true potential.
Related Read: The Ultimate Guide: How to Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind
The benefits of using hypnosis for confidence are numerous:
Enhances decision-making abilities, allowing for more effective problem-solving and risk-taking.
Promotes resilience, enabling you to recover quickly from setbacks and challenges.
Improves communication skills, leading to more persuasive and impactful interactions.
Increases motivation and drive, developing a proactive approach to achieving goals.
Strengthens relationships by nurturing trust, respect, and authenticity.
Encourages personal growth and self-improvement through continuous learning and self-reflection.
Boosts performance in professional settings, leading to career advancement and opportunities.
Reduces stress and anxiety, contributing to overall mental and emotional well-being.
Nurtures a positive self-image, reinforcing self-worth and self-acceptance.
Enhances leadership qualities, inspiring and motivating others to achieve their potential.
Promotes creativity and innovation by reducing fear of failure and encouraging experimentation.
Supports a healthier lifestyle by improving self-care habits and encouraging a balanced approach to life.
As you can see, confidence is not just a desirable trait; it’s a vital component of a fulfilling and successful life. With its profound impact on various aspects of personal and professional development, building and maintaining confidence is essential.
This is where hypnosis can play a transformative role, offering a unique approach to overcoming self-doubt and enhancing self-belief.
Michael, a marketing executive, had always been plagued by severe self-doubt when it came to public speaking. The mere thought of presenting in front of an audience would trigger intense anxiety, causing him to avoid opportunities that required him to speak publicly.
This self-doubt not only hindered his professional growth but also affected his self-esteem.
Determined to overcome his fear, Michael decided to try hypnotherapy. During his sessions, the hypnotherapist employed visualization techniques, guiding Michael to create vivid mental images of himself delivering successful presentations.
He visualized standing confidently, engaging his audience, and receiving positive feedback. This practice helped Michael’s subconscious mind become familiar with the idea of success in public speaking.
In addition to visualization, Michael was introduced to positive affirmations. He began each day by repeating empowering statements such as, “I am a confident and effective speaker,” and “I captivate my audience with ease.”
These affirmations gradually replaced his negative self-talk with positive beliefs about his abilities.
After a few sessions of hypnotherapy, Michael noticed a significant improvement. He felt more confident and less anxious about public speaking.
Eventually, he started volunteering for presentations at work. His newfound confidence led to successful presentations, which were well-received by his colleagues and superiors.
Today, Michael confidently delivers presentations and has advanced in his career, thanks to the transformative power of hypnosis. Consistency is key to success with hypnosis.
Regular practice and patience are essential to achieving lasting results. Set aside dedicated time each day for hypnosis sessions and be patient with the process.
You may be in constant pain… and not even know about it… because you might feel that you cannot take a single good decision. We know it is not a good feeling at all. And that is why we have a solution for you. On one hand, self-doubt can literally eat you up. On the other hand, you can learn to be confident if you choose to resolve your hidden issues through hypnosis.
It is natural; it is quick; and you can book a free consultation right now! Although it sounds a bit cliche but… So, what will you choose?
Master Your Mind, Master Your Life
Our Hypnotherapists are dedicated to help people to harness the power of the mind and
feelings, so that we can reach our true potential and be the best version of ourselves.
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2023 Make It Happen Hypnotherapy, Registered in Queensland, Australia
Registered Address: Suite 1, 2 Benson Street, Benson House, Toowong, Brisbane, QLD, 4066 Australia
Our Clinical Hypnotherapists will guide you into a state of trance similar to daydreaming. By working with your subconscious mind, we will find out the underlying causes of your emotional suffering, and establish desired outcomes for you. To achieve this, we will use various techniques like Inner Child Therapy, Regression, Parts Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Rewind Technique, and more.
