Self-doubt and loss of confidence is something that affects everyone at one time or another, and for a good number of people it affects them for their entire life. This is especially true for people who have a history of struggling and continuous failures.
It’s so easy to live in the past by looking at our past failures and believing that they are an indication of what is destined to continue to happen in the future. This leads us to constantly second guess and lose confidence in ourselves.
In the video below, UFC fighter Chael Sonnen talks candidly to Uriah Faber about the nature of confidence and failure. As competitive athletes, neither of these men are strangers to the destructive power of self-doubt. In the words of Uriah, it’s like a drop of poison that effects everything.
As Chael explains, failure is always an option. In fact, it’s the most readily available option at all times. Failure doesn’t happen to us, we choose it. Whenever we’re faced with doubt, we have a choice to make. We can choose failure, or we can choose success.
It all starts with our thoughts. Negative self-talk and more doubt is the road to failure, but focusing our thoughts on our goals and on the steps that we need to take to get there is the road to success.
Sometimes when we doubt ourselves we can feel so alone, as though success and accomplishment is available to everyone except us. So it’s very encouraging to know that even professional competitive athletes suffer from their own doubts.
We’re all human, we’re all in the same boat, and we all have to learn to overcome our inner weaknesses and fears.
Take a few minutes to watch the video below. I found it very uplifting and inspiring and I’m sure you will get a lot out of it too.
