This is a guest post from one of HSP’s favorite guests, Joseph Bennett. His new book, When in Doubt, is set for release on April 21, 2023.

Have you ever doubted your Self? I know I have… more times than I’d like to count.

• Will anyone buy this book?
• Hasn’t all of this already been said?
• Will they judge me for putting this out there?
• How much do I charge for this book, and how many pages, or chapters should it be?
• Does this _________ even make sense?

With the clients I work with, especially writers, doubt seems to creep in a lot—keeping folks up at night, tossing and turning and wondering what if… What if it turns out that I don’t know what I’m doing? What if I fail? What if I never finish the manuscript? What if they don’t like me?

Two simple tools

If any of this feels true for you, here are two simple tools that you can use to help you in times of doubt:

1. Practice the art of Trust. When you’re faced with the fear, overwhelm and stress of not knowing what to do and doubt is creeping in, begin a simple and consistent practice of Trusting yourself. Notice that you’ve been through a heck of a lot in your life, and you will get through this, too.

Quick story: During the quarantine, I took a two-hour breathwork course online. During the intense and wonderfully healing class, I heard from the Universe: “In the middle of Trust is U. TrUst.” I immediately got up from the floor and wrote it down.

Can we learn to trust ourselves no matter what? When you’re in a place of doubt, allow yourself the grace of Trusting. Trust Your Self… Try this: The next time doubt begins to creep in, simply and repeatedly say: I trust myself, I trust myself, I trust myself…

2. Give yourself some grace. Allow yourself to not have all the answers, all the time, at the drop of the hat. It’s natural to have some confusion or lack of clarity sometimes. Breathe into that space of not knowing and take care of yourself with a wee bit (or a lot) of grace. It’s OK be uncertain, to have doubts sometimes. It’s part of the human experience.

Heck, even Patricia the Primate has doubts sometimes…

Having doubts is normal

It’s normal to feel this way, to have doubts. Part of the solution is to recognize it as a temporary experience (thankfully, most of us don’t get stuck in doubt), give yourself some (or a lot of) grace, and trust that you will find all the right solutions for you.

And most importantly, be gentle with yourself, OK? I believe in you. And I hope that you believe in you, too.

Learn more at Joseph’s website.

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Coming April 21, 2023 When in Doubt, Nearly 400 funny, inspiring and insightful ideas about what to do when you’re in doubt. Follow Joseph’s author page on Amazon for updates.

image credit: Paolo Nicolello