The Best 70 Affirmations to Eliminate Self-Doubt

Meet Tim, a fresh college graduate who just landed his first corporate job as a software engineer. Tim has always been very passionate about technology and wanted to work in tech development since his early teens.

He has worked hard to get to this point where he has been hired by a good company. But now, as he starts his new job, doubts begin to stir up in his mind.

• “What if I’m not as competent as my other team members?”

• “Am I really good enough for this position?”

• “What if I mess up and get fired because of a silly mistake?”

• “This corporate environment is all so new to me, I don’t even know how things work around here.”

• “What if I fail to fit in and my coworkers don’t like me”

All these thoughts keep Tim in an anxious state at his job. 

Often he would find himself unproductive, staring at his blank computer screen, unable to write even a single line of code.

This leads him to become a recluse and reserved, avoiding unnecessary interactions with his colleagues. Soon enough, his anxiety and stress because of self-doubt make him lose his passion and motivation for his job.

The effects of self-doubt even trickle into other areas outside of his life and begin to affect his mental health and overall well-being. He often finds himself dwelling in feelings of guilt and feeling like an imposter.

He feels hopeless, not knowing how to overcome these feelings and how to gain back the confidence and passion that he once had.

If you can relate with Tim and you too are facing self-doubt in your personal or professional life, then this guide is for you.

We’ll briefly look into 3 steps to overcome and eliminate self-doubt before diving into the 70 affirmations for self-doubt and how to use them to get your confidence back. 

3 Step Strategy to Overcome Self-Doubt

Psychologically speaking, self-doubt is rooted in the way our brain processes information. How we perceive things (including ourselves) and what conclusions we draw from them are often linked to the beliefs we have.

A lot of us who suffer from self-doubt usually have disempowering beliefs about ourselves. We underestimate our worth, ability, and capacity, while we overestimate other people in comparison.

Negative inner dialogue, constant self-criticism, and focusing too much on our weaknesses and failures, instead of our strengths and wins, damage our self-esteem and make us feel like an imposter.

This leads us to the first step:

1. Observe Your Inner Dialogue Consciously

Whenever you are going through self-doubt, pause for a moment and draw your attention to your thoughts. Dissociate and observe them as you would observe someone else.

Notice the flow of those thoughts. Where are they originating from? Do they root from a belief you have about yourself or an experience you had in the past?

Just observe curiously without judgment. Bring it into your conscious awareness.

2. Counter The Negative Thoughts 

Now that you’ve brought your thought process into your awareness, you can challenge the negative and limiting thoughts with counterarguments.

Give yourself 3 reasons why you are better and more capable that those thoughts of self-doubt.

Remind yourself of the instances when you performed beyond your expectations. Count your good qualities and skills that you can use to perform well at the given task or situation.

3. Use Strong Affirmations to Eliminate Self-Doubt

After you’ve challenged and weakened the disempowering thoughts, replace them with strong affirmations. I’ve discussed and linked research studies later in this guide on how affirmations can literally light up certain areas in our brain which help us get into a more confident, self-assured, and productive state of mind.

Repeat the affirmations with firm belief and strength. Put life into these affirmations. 

This is how you can reprogram your mind with these 3 simple steps. If you’re consistent enough with this practice, you’ll see significant changes in your personality and performance. 

70 Affirmations to Get Rid of Self-Doubt and Gain Back Confidence

1. I trust my strengths and capabilities.

2. I am a fairly competent individual.

3. I am a respectable individual who takes my work seriously.

4. Whatever anxiety or doubt I’m feeling is a sign that I want to put my best effort into whatever I do.

5. It’s okay to make some mistakes along the way.

6. Mistakes don’t invalidate someone’s capabilities. Everyone makes mistakes.

7. I take my errors and flaws as an opportunity to learn and refine myself.

8. No matter how difficult the task might seem, I’ll accomplish it with resilience and perseverance.

9. I am put in this position because I am capable of handling it.

10. Whatever skills and abilities I have are enough at this very moment.

11. I have performed exceptionally well several times in the past, I can do it again.

12. I allow my subconscious mind to unleash my hidden potential to accomplish this task and handle this situation.

13. I have the potential to create a positive change in my life and in the world around me.

14. It’s okay and natural to feel anxious before an important task.

15. Feeling some anxiety and self-doubt is my body’s way of making sure I prepare myself fully and put my best foot forward.

16. I allow myself to feel worthy of respect, admiration, appreciation, and prosperity.

17. I trust my judgment to make good decisions.

18. I allow myself to analyze things properly before taking action.

19. I can only overcome my limitations by stepping out of my comfort zone.

20. Every uncomfortable situation I face is pushing me toward a life of fulfillment and achievement.

21. The more I push myself out of my comfort zone, the more certainty and confidence I gain.

22. Sometimes the only thing standing between me and success are some trials and errors.

23. I acknowledge the thoughts of self-doubt and I question their validity with a  rational and open mind.

24. I am capable of overcoming challenging situations and adversities of life.

25. I bring distinct value to the table.

26. I release myself from the worry of what people will think of me.

27. I release myself from all social pressures.

28. I allow myself to believe in myself.

29. I allow my hidden confidence to unleash from within at the right time.

30. I make decisions to the best of my abilities.

31. I am going to make things happen with work and consistent effort.

32. I am worthy of respect and love even when I make mistakes.

33. I forgive myself for all my past mistakes and I commit to improving upon them.

34. I confront my doubtful thoughts with proof of success from past experiences.

35. I overcome self-doubt by detaching and dissociating myself from those thoughts.

36. I allow myself to be kind and gentle to myself.

37. I gently let go of any negative beliefs I’ve had about myself.

38. I utilize the resources around me to accomplish tasks effectively.

39. I celebrate and feel good about myself over small victories.

40. Each small victory leads me to ultimate success and accomplishment in life.

41. I am committed to growing and improving every single day in some way.

42. I tap into my inner instincts when making decisions and I trust what they tell me.

43. I choose self-belief and self-assurance over self-doubt.

44. I believe in my capabilities and potential no matter the circumstances.

45. I fully accept where I am right now as I move toward where I want to be.

46. I allow myself to embrace my flaws and weaknesses. Everyone has their own.

47. I let go of perfectionism as I practice flexibility.

48. I am on my own unique journey in life and I trust where it’s taking me.

49. I take charge of the direction of my life by making conscious decisions.

50. I allow myself to be my authentic self.

51. I act in ways that are true to my soul.

52. Whenever I encounter doubt or lack of knowledge about something, I am not ashamed to ask for guidance.

53. I believe in myself even when others doubt me. I see what they aren’t seeing right now.

54. I tap into my courage in times of uncertainty.

55. I replace my fears with the excitement to learn and explore.

56. I confront my doubts and insecurities with strength and courage.

57. I won’t allow fear or doubts to hold me back any longer.

58. I don’t quit until I win or at least until I’ve given my best shot.

59. Whenever I’m doubtful, I am willing to learn from those most experienced than me.

60. Difficulties make me stronger and more capable. It’s always a win.

61. I speak my mind even when I feel unsure of myself.

62. Sincere and consistent efforts always pay off.

63. Every setback teaches me a new way to improve.

64. I ask God for guidance and ease.

65. I let go of that little inner critic inside my head.

66. With a deep cleansing breath, I clear my head of anything that might be holding me back.

67. I let go of the worries of the future and give my best shot in the current moment.

68. I cultivate passion and enthusiasm in anything I do.

69. I replace self-doubt with a compelling vision of success and fulfillment.

70. Instead of dwelling over worries of the future, I fill my mind with exciting possibilities up ahead.

Research Studies on the Effectiveness of Affirmations in Overcoming Self-Doubt

There are studies in which scientists have done brain scans to study the effects of affirmations on our brains.

Research suggests that self-affirmations can broaden a person’s perspective and reduce the effects of negative and limiting emotions by putting the individual in a more resourceful state of mind.

Affirmations are also shown to improve a person’s sense of self-worth and confidence by helping them tap into their psychological resources and reduce reactive responses. 

How to Use Affirmations to Overcome Self-Doubt – 7 Steps

1	Pick the top 10 affirmations that are relevant to your particular situation and resonate with you the most. The ones that connect with you on a deeper level and feel the most meaningful to you.
2	Write down those affirmations on paper or on the notes app of your phone and dedicate 5-10 minutes each day to focus on these affirmations. Pick a time that suits you best. First thing in the morning, during lunch break, before bed, you name it.
3	As you say these affirmations for self-doubt, visualize them as if it’s your current reality. Vividly see yourself in a confident state, handling tasks with ease, achieving your goals, and operating at your best potential.
4	As you do this practice, notice the shifts in your state of mind. Notice how you subtly grow more relaxed and confident and feel a sense of motivation and productivity. Also notice any doubts, negative thoughts, or anxiety creeping in during this practice. Acknowledge those thoughts and gently let them go. It’s okay. You’re doing just fine. Just bring your focus back on positive and proactive thoughts and visualization.
5	Be gentle and patient with yourself. It can take some time to start reaping the benefits of this practice. If you don’t feel any significant improvement in the first couple of days, it’s okay. Just trust the process and be consistent in your use of these affirmations.
6	Periodically switch up your list of top 10 affirmations for overcoming self-doubt and pick new affirmations from this list. Bookmark this page so it’s easier for you to return to this list.
7	Remember that affirmations are a “tool” designed to help you positively reprogram your mind toward improvement. Affirmations work best when complemented with practical actions such as setting goals, taking measures to eliminate negativity and distractions as much as possible, and making everyday choices that help you feel confident and gain reassurance in your abilities.

Additionally, check out the 50 Powerful Affirmations to Eliminate Imposter Syndrome for good!

If you are struggling with constant negative thoughts, you can read my 12-Step Guide to Overcome Negative Thoughts Instantly HERE.

Hope this guide served you well. Take good care of yourself and I’ll see you in the next one!