How to Stop SEcond Guessing Yourself and Trust Your Decisions
Why We Struggle to Trust Our Decisions
Do you constantly second-guess yourself, replaying choices over and over in your head? Decision fatigue, fear of failure, and the pressure to make the “right” choice can lead to analysis paralysis. Learning to trust yourself is key to confidence, success, and personal growth. In this post, we’ll explore why self-doubt happens and how to build unshakable trust in your decision-making.
The Root Causes of Second-Guessing
Understanding why you struggle to trust yourself is the first step toward breaking the cycle. Common reasons include:
Fear of Failure: Worrying that a wrong choice will lead to regret or consequences.
Perfectionism: Wanting to make the absolute best decision, not just a good one.
Seeking External Validation: Relying on others’ opinions rather than your own intuition.
Decision Fatigue: Overanalyzing too many choices can make even small decisions feel overwhelming.
Past Trauma or ADHD Paralysis: If past experiences have led to negative outcomes, your brain may hesitate to make decisions in the future.
5 Strategies to Strengthen Self-Trust in Decision-Making
1. Reframe “Right” vs. “Wrong” Decisions
No decision is inherently wrong—each choice simply leads to a different experience. Instead of asking, “What if I make the wrong decision?” try shifting to:
“What will I learn from this experience?”
“Does this choice align with my core values and goals?”
2. Use a Decision-Making Framework
If you often feel unsure, create a system for making choices with clarity:
Gut Check: How does my body feel—tense or relaxed?
Logic Scan: Does this align with my long-term goals?
Intuition Test: What does my inner voice tell me?
3. Set a Time Limit on Decisions
Overthinking leads to hesitation. Give yourself a deadline:
Small decisions: 5 minutes.
Medium decisions: 24 hours.
Major life decisions: A few days, but not weeks of overthinking.
4. Keep a “Proof Journal”
Track past decisions, why you made them, and how they turned out. Seeing positive outcomes from choices you made can build confidence in your intuition.
5. Make a Decision and Adjust as Needed
Sometimes, you won’t know if a choice is right until you take action. Trust yourself, move forward, and if needed, course-correct along the way.
