“It’s Not Who You Are That Holds You Back, It’s Who You Think You’re Not”
Self-doubt often appears quietly, showing up as second-guessing your choices, hesitating to speak up, or believing others are more capable. These thoughts usually do not come from truth, but from deeply rooted beliefs about not being enough. Whether it is feeling not smart enough, not strong enough, or not ready, these ideas can slowly begin to shape how you see yourself and how you move through the world.
The problem is not a lack of ability but a lack of belief in what is already there. When the focus stays on who you think you are not, it becomes harder to see the strengths that already exist. Instead of noticing the skills, values, and experiences that shape who you are, your attention shifts to what feels missing. This often happens quietly and over time. It may come from past experiences, from being in spaces where your worth was questioned, or from always feeling like you had to prove yourself. Eventually, this way of thinking can start to feel familiar or even safe, but that does not make it true.
Here are a few ways this mindset can show up:
Avoiding new opportunities out of fear of not being “ready”
Downplaying achievements or brushing off compliments
Comparing yourself to others and feeling behind
To shift this mindset:
Name the inner voice. Noticing when it speaks can create space between thought and truth.
Reflect on what is already present. Skills, values, and personal growth can be easily overlooked when we focus on what is missing.
Ask where the belief started. Often, these thoughts are inherited, not chosen.
Practice self-talk that reflects who you are becoming, not just who you fear you are not.
Growth does not begin by becoming someone else. It begins by trusting who you already are. There is strength in the version of you that exists right now, even if it still feels like a work in progress. What holds you back is not who you are, but the story that says you are not enough. That story can change.
-Rammy Dhatt