Why Not You? 5 Ways to Overcome Doubts

I received this newsletter today and I thought it was a great way to start off the week, so I wanted to share it with others who are trying to stay motivated too.

Have a great week everybody,
Karen Doolan

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THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:
Why Not You? 5 Ways to Overcome Doubts

Dear Friends,

This week, I'd like to share a message I wrote to you a few months ago. Please consider it a reminder of how to push past your doubts and live more fully.

Before I began writing books and speaking, I would often study authors and speakers who were doing what I wanted to do with my career. Their lives seemed somehow magical - like they knew some special secrets that I didn't have access to. Of course, that wasn't true. I had within me everything I needed to begin living the purpose for which I was created. What many of them had was a strong belief in their ability to live their dreams. They also had perseverance. They believed in themselves and their potential for success so much that they refused to give up when success didn't happen in their timing.
They believed it would come eventually - and it did. I began asking myself, "Valorie, why not you? You could fulfill your dream of inspiring others through your writing. Just begin doing it."

This week, I want to encourage you to simply believe in your own
possibilities and stay the course as you pursue them! I am amazed at
how often we stand in awe of the accomplishments of others, as though
we cannot achieve similar things. If you find yourself doing this, I
encourage you to stop looking at what everyone else has accomplished
and begin appreciating your own talents, experiences, abilities and
potential. You can have the life you were meant to live and successfully pursue the things that matter most to you, but first you must believe that you can. This is a basic foundation for success.

One of the most important elements of your personal foundation is simply believing in yourself. You must expect success - and then take action and persevere based upon those expectations. In my book Listen
to Your Life, I talk about cultivating an attitude of positive expectancy. If a video camera had recorded your life over the last week, what would I say you were expecting? Would your actions indicate that you are expecting success? Consider these five strategies to help you overcome doubts and cultivate an attitude of positive expectancy:

1. EXPECT DOUBT AND OVERCOME IT WITH TRUTH.
When you are pursuing important goals, doubts will surface. Expect them, but do not allow them to govern your actions. Make a list of your most persistent doubts and then counter them with the reasons
that you can overcome those doubts. For example, if you begin to doubt your ability to be disciplined because in the past you have not stayed on track with your goals, remind yourself that this is a new day and you are evolving into a stronger and more disciplined person. Your past does not dictate your future.

2. REMEMBER THAT WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
When you are living within God's will for your life and fulfilling your unique purpose, you will experience "divine favor." Don't become overly concerned when you cannot figure out how something will happen.
Simply continue taking steps forward in faith and God will meet you at the point of your limitation.

3. FAILURES AND MISTAKES ARE LEARNING TOOLS.
Doubts and fears are often cultivated when we fail or make mistakes.
We begin to doubt our abilities. But failure today does not mean you will fail again tomorrow - not if you learn the lesson in your failure. So perhaps your relationship failed or you failed in school or at work. I spent my entire first year of college on academic probation, yet graduated in three years at the age of 20 and earned my master's degree a year later at 21. My first-year failure was no indication of my academic or professional future. In every experience, ask yourself, "What did I learn from this
experience that will empower me to succeed the next time around?"
Then keep on pushing forward!

4. TAKE ACTION EVERY DAY TOWARDS YOUR VISION.
Two weeks ago, I challenged you to identify your vision in the five key areas of your life - relationships, finances, health, work and spiritual life. When you take consistent action towards a vision that is based on your life purpose, you begin to see opportunities flow into your path. Doubt can cause a vicious cycle in which you are paralyzed by fear and as a result, never take action. When you don't take action, you also don't attract opportunities into your path. Thus, you reinforce your own doubts. Take consistent action and you will break the cycle of fear and doubt that can keep you stuck.

5. TALK TO YOURSELF.
Yes, that's right. Talk to yourself! Proverbs 18:21 tells us, "Life and death is in the power of the tongue." Sometimes you simply have to practice positive self-talk. When you are feeling doubtful, tell yourself, "I CAN do this." "It's possible." "I have what it takes." Speak positively about yourself and your circumstances, and you will discover new strength to move forward in positive ways. Sometimes you can't wait for others to encourage you. You have to encourage yourself!

My challenge to you this week:
Believe in your own possibilities. Today, make a list of your most
persistent doubts and then make another list of positive truths that will help you overcome those doubts.

Journaling assignment:
In what ways have you allowed negative experiences, mistakes or
failures from your past to dictate your possibilities for the future? Make a decision this week to learn from your past, but not to be limited by it.

Until next time ...

Warm wishes,
Valorie

* Online store special: 3 signed copies of What's Really Really Holding You Back for $33. Purchase at valorieburton.com/store.html .
* Remember THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO REGISTER for the Breakthrough
Weekend, July 8 - 10, 2005, at the Hilton Old Towne Alexandria. I'm
looking forward to meeting you there!

P.S. Encourage your friends and family by sharing this newsletter and
invite others to subscribe! Just send them to valorieburton.com where they can enter their email address
on the home page.

Valorie Burton, a life coach and speaker, is the author of Listen to Your Life, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards and her latest, What's Really Holding You Back?. She has been interviewed by CNN, InStyle, Self, Real Simple, Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, The 700 Club, The Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of other media outlets nationwide.

Subscribe to her FREE, inspirational e-newsletter at
valorieburton.com
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