Do you second-guess your ability to make the “right” decisions for your career?

If you do, you may have noticed how this can keep you stuck, or worse, have you ping-ponging between different options.

When you learn to trust in yourself, you will move forward.

Here are 5 tips to grow your “self-trust” muscle.

1. Notice what you trust and how you make decisions.

If you regularly turn to others for their input, ask yourself why you feel they know better than you?

2. Before asking a trusted person’s advice, take some time to form your own opinion on the issue.

Tune into your own inner intelligence, found in three body centers: gut, heart, and mind.

As you do so, notice how self-doubting thoughts may compete for attention. See them as the doubting, fearful part of your personality, and not the final authority on the issue.

(A long time ago, a therapist advised me to place my self-doubting thoughts in a box on the shelf. This did not work for me. I could not separate from the compelling thoughts. It was only after I started a meditation practice, worked with a somatic therapist, and investigated the roots of my personality, that I began to see these thoughts did not represent the “truth” of who I was. This has not been easy and is an ongoing practice. But it has helped liberate me from the clutches of self-doubt).

3. Practice cultivating trust in your judgment.

Start with small decisions and keep going.

As you do, you will gather enough data points to show your decision making is sound, and you will learn to trust yourself even more.

4. If you tend to suffer from “amnesia of past achievements”, actively remind yourself of challenges you’ve overcome.

When you accomplish a goal or receive positive feedback, avoid the temptation to dismiss it, or immediately start worrying that you may not be able to live up to it.

Instead, take a moment to allow the feedback to sink in. You could even make a note of it.

(I used to keep thank you notes from patients in a folder to remind me when I felt unworthy or didn’t trust my abilities.)

5. Spend time in silence.

For example, take a walk outside in nature.

Avoid the temptation to mentally troubleshoot and strategize.

Instead, allow your mind to notice the sights, sounds, and smells around you.

Bottom Line.

Become aware of how you make decisions. Notice if you tend to rely on others for guidance.

Look for opportunities to first decide for yourself.

Practice tuning in to your own inner intelligence and become aware of self-doubting thoughts.

With practice, you will grow in your ability to trust your own decisions and move forward with confidence.