I am in the midst of a project which I have challenged myself to do. If it is a success, it would be a great accomplishment for me and I'm very excited at that prospect. Since I'm doing the project on my own, with minimal external assistance, there's really no one for me to consult when I have any problems or if my enthusiasm turns to doubts, like rain clouds which looms threateningly over my head. Here's how I try to overcome my doubts, in pursuit of success.
Understanding Doubts
When do doubts appear? Doubts will appear often at the most inappropriate moments such as when you encounter a small hurdle or a setback. Doubts will come when you least expected it. You begin to doubt all your efforts and often ask whether it is worth it at all. You begin to question your capabilities and convince yourself that you're no expert to be doing something big like this. You doubt yourself and sell yourself short. However, you need to understand that doubts develop out of fear.
What are You Afraid Of?
This is the next question you must ask yourself. What is causing your fears? If you said that you are afraid of failures, you have come up with the right answer. When you encounter setbacks or obstacles in your projects, you are most afraid that it might fail. At times, you might be most afraid that you might just succeed. And then what?
The fear of failure is one of the biggest inner contradictions that you may encounter every now and then. The fear of failure often keeps you in situations you dislike, jobs you loathe and people you despise. So, now that you know that your doubts come from the fear of failure, what can you do to overcome it?
Identify the Worst Case Scenario
The best way to overcome the fear of failure is to ask yourself what will happen if you fail. How badly will it be? What will you lose? Will you lose your job, your friends, your credibility? What is the worst that can happen if you fail? Write them all down.
My project involves the setting up of an online business. My main concern would be how much I would lose if this project were to fail. So I did all my calculations and realized that I would not lose my entire savings if I failed. And I will not die from starvation if I failed in this business venture. So I carried on with my business idea. Every time I encounter my doubts, I will revisit the worst case scenario for my project.
How to Pick Yourself Up?
Another question that will help you overcome your doubts and fears would be to ask yourself how you can pick yourself up if your project fails miserably. For me, I could always go back to work if my online business falls below expectation. Although it's a thought I try to push to the very back of my mind, but I know that there is a way out of a bad situation. It's good to be prepared for the worst, but at the same time, hope for the best.
Take Action
Kill your fears with positive action! Write down three steps that will bring you closer to the completion of your project. Do you have to make a phonecall, do an online research, or send an e-mail? If it is just these simple tasks, you will find that you will start to return to your main focus as soon as you start doing something that brings you nearer to your goals. You will soon forget about your doubts and fears.
Every doubt and fear need to be addressed. By understanding your doubts and fears and the steps you need to undertake to overcome them, doubt clouds will soon disappear into thin air and your self-confidence will be restored quickly. Never give up!
译文:
疑问隐约出现在脑子里时, 怎么办?
我强迫自己做着一个项目。如果成功的话，它将是我的一次伟大成就。我对有那样的希望很激动。因为我正独自做着这个项目，尽管有极小的外界援助，可是当我遇到问题或工作热情转成疑惑时，确实没有一个可以商量的人。这就像雨云一样阴沉沉地浮现在我的脑子里。下面是关于我如何尽力去克服疑问，追寻成功的几点做法。
理解疑问
疑问什么时候会出现呢？它经常在最不适当的时候出现，比如你遇到小挫折时。当你最不期望它时，它来了。你开始怀疑自己的所有努力并经常问：那样做是否值得，也开始怀疑自己的能力并确信自己不是能做这样大事的行家。你怀疑自己，轻视自己。然而，你要明白你的害怕会使得疑问加重。
你在害怕什么？
这是你必须问自己的第二个问题。是什么让你感到害怕呢？如果说你是怕失败，那你就想到了正确的答案。在项目中遇到阻碍时，你最担心的是它有可能失败。有时，你又可能最担忧自己也许会成功。然后呢？
畏惧失败是最大的内在矛盾之一。你可能隔一会儿会遇到这些内在矛盾。畏惧失败常常使你遇到不喜欢的情况、工作和人。所以，既然知道你的疑问是来自对失败的恐惧，那要克服它你可以做些什么呢？
定义最坏的情况
克服对失败的恐惧的最好方法就是问自己：假如你失败了，会怎么样。有多糟？你会失去什么？工作？朋友？还是信任？要是你失败了，最坏又会怎样？把它们全写下来。
我的项目包含开办联网业务。我主要关注如果这个项目失败，我会损失多少。所以我全部算了一下，意识到即使失败了，我不会失去所有的积蓄，也不会饿死。因此，我继续坚持自己的事业理念。每次遇到疑问时，我都会重提项目中有可能出现的最坏情况。
如何振作起来？
帮助你克服疑问和恐惧的另一个问题就是问自己：假如你的项目很悲惨地失败了，你要如何振作起来。对于我来说，假使我的联网业务办得并不理想，我还是会继续干下去的。虽然它是我尽量想忘掉的一个念头，但我知道一种能跳出困境的方法：对最糟的情况有所准备是好的，但同时也要寄予最大的希望。
采取行动
用积极的行动阻止恐惧发生！写下三个步骤来促使你的项目更快完成。你非得打个电话，或者做个网上调查或者发一封电子邮件吗？要是就这些简单的任务，你将发现一旦开始做些能更接近目标的事情，你的主要精力就会恢复。你也将很快地忘掉疑问和恐惧。
每一个疑问和恐惧都需要处理。通过理解，通过进行必要的步骤来克服疑问和恐惧，很快地疑云会消失在稀薄的空气中。而你的自信也能迅速得到恢复。永不言放弃！