How to Overcome Self-Doubt Immediately With One Phrase

Approximately 99.99 percent of the time when I sit down to write a blog post, this is what I'm thinking:

“I'm not saying anything new. Tons of other posts are already out there about this same thing, so nobody's going to read my piddly little contribution. Why bother?”

The doubt starts as a thin crackle of thunder, miles away. Then louder and louder and louder until the storm's right on top of me, soaking me in self-doubt. The clouds completely obscure the shining ray of inspiration I started with. And I end up just sitting there, hands hovering above the keyboard but unable to type.

Bonus: Get this free printable worksheet that will stop self-doubt in its tracks and get your creative juices flowing again.

What Self-Doubt Does to You

When the crippling self-doubt sets in, I usually text my husband, whining that I can't think of anything fresh to write about.

And he reminds me of something I say often but tend to forget in those moments of self-doubt:

“There are no new ideas. Just new packaging.”

What if J.K. Rowling looked at The Lord of the Rings and thought, “Oh well, someone already wrote about an old, wise wizard with a long white beard, so I guess I'll just forget about this Dumbledore dude…”

What if the Mars candy company came across Reese's peanut butter cups and said, “Dang, someone already combined chocolate and peanut butter in a candy! We'll just trash those plans for Peanut Butter M&Ms…”

Or what if the Grand Master Barista of Starbucks was coming up with the recipe for Pumpkin Spice Lattes and found out that some tiny coffee shop in Estes Park, Colorado, already had a Pumpkin Spice Latte, and she said to herself, “Well, I better just pack up my PSL recipe and go home. Why bother?”

I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in a world without Dumbledore, Peanut Butter M&Ms, or PSLs.

To be clear, I'm certainly not advocating ripping off other people's ideas. Copying someone's exact execution of an idea is never okay.

But give me two bloggers and the same idea for a post, and I promise you they'll each come at it from a different angle. How you execute on an idea is influenced by your unique experiences and knowledge. Your voice is yours and yours alone.

How to Overcome Self-Doubt With One Magic Phrase

When you find yourself struggling with the feeling that you don't have anything new to offer your audience, remember:

“There are no new ideas. Just new packaging.”

Make your product as only you can. Just like J.K. Rowling and the Mars candy company and the Grand Master Barista of Starbucks.

But Sometimes, You Need More Help

When you're in the throes of self-doubt, one phrase may not be enough to help you get back on track. In fact, research shows that when humans are in a rut, we're typically not good at talking ourselves out of it.

But you can't let the self-doubt keep you from writing or creating. So what does work?

On those tough days, you need The Doubt Destroyer.

Download Your Free Printable

To help you stop self-doubt in its tracks, I made a worksheet you can fill out and get your creative juices flowing again.

The Doubt Destroyer gives you three simple steps backed by science to help you conquer self-doubt. Download the worksheet, print a few copies, and keep them on hand for the days you need help overcoming doubt.

Here's a preview:

Follow these steps to prepare yourself before the next storm of self-doubt rolls in:

1. Download the worksheet. You'll get the printable, plus get my free 5-day email series on how to get more traffic with fewer posts. Just click here to download.
2. Print a few copies. Any paper will do.
3. Keep them handy. Put the stack on your desk, on your kitchen counter, or in your vehicle's glove compartment – wherever you typically succumb to self-doubt.
4. When doubt hits, pick up The Doubt Destroyer. Follow the steps on the worksheet, and you'll be back to creating with confidence in no time.

Want More?

Claim your spot in my free blogging course.

Tell Me

What's your best trick for how to overcome self-doubt? Leave a comment and let me know!