Hi Girlfriend,

Get ready to be inspired to tackle your dreams! Today, we're diving deep into a topic that affects us all: self-doubt and the fear of failure. 🙈

I got this DM from a woman on IG. She reached out to share her struggles with starting a side hustle, and her message hit me hard. I bet you’ve felt the same - esp the first line. 😉

"You are my daily motivation and you're helping me so much especially now, that I'm 'trying' to start a side hustle. I have tons of excuses, I'm scared and you're right it's all a waste of time. My excuses are that I'm not good enough and I won't succeed. I've tried it before and it didn't work. The market is oversaturated and nobody will find me or see my work or products. There are so many other people out there who do a much better job…..blah blah blah. Why oh why do we do this to ourselves?!? 😄😂"

First of all, a huge shoutout to her for her honesty! 👏 Girlfriend, you are not alone in feeling this way, and we see you! Self-doubt can be a daily companion on our journey to greatness. So, how can we kick these negative vibes to the curb and find the confidence to eliminate the excuses?

1. Acknowledge Your Thoughts: The first step is to recognize and accept that these thoughts of self-doubt and fear are entirely normal. We all face them, even those who seem incredibly confident. Embracing these thoughts as part of the process helps take away their power. THEN LET THEM GO. ✌🏻 You need to be so focused on your goals that you don't have the TIME or SPACE to let those thoughts take up room where your GOOD thoughts need to be! I am so focused on my goals that I don't have the energy to talk myself out of things because I'm working hard to make them happen. 🤔

2. Challenge Your Inner Critic: When self-doubt creeps in, ask yourself: "Is this belief based on facts or assumptions?" Often, our fears are rooted in unfounded assumptions. 91% of what you think each day won't come true. Write down what you're thinking, just like my friend did above. When you read what you wrote, do you realize that what you're telling yourself isn't real? Challenge these negative thoughts with an "Is this a fact or did I make it up?" and see what happens. 🤷‍♀️

3. Set Small Goals: Instead of aiming for a HUGE, intimidating goal, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Achieving these milestones will build your confidence and momentum. I keep saying this, but it's easy to feel like a failure. I realize this all the time! I feel like I SHOULD be ahead of where I am, but then I remember that I’m taking the steps to get there. It's coming. Trust the process. 🙏

4. Seek Support: Reach out to friends, family, or a supportive community (like ours!) who can provide encouragement and advice. Sometimes, sharing your fears with someone you trust can make a difference. Honestly, I don't do this enough. But it really does help to explain your thoughts to someone. Putting them into words - having to explain it - helps flush out the process. And they will have great ideas and feedback! When you find your people, keep turning to them as a sounding board since they get you and your vision. Those are the ones you want to have in your circle. ⭕️

5. Celebrate Your Progress: Remember to celebrate your wins AND YOUR LOSSES. Each one of them is a step, and that's what matters. BE PROUD OF YOURSELF!!! This is something I'm learning to do more of. Now, when I have something BIG coming up, I also tag on to it a post-celebration. No matter how I did or how the thing turned out, good or bad, I plan to take care of myself right after. For example, I'm giving a talk to 100 women in a month, and on my calendar, it says Talk @ 3 PM. Dinner @ 5 PM. And I picked my fav restaurant (Short & Main, see you there) nearby to bring my new friends to help celebrate! Because even if I BOMB 💣 guess what? I AM STILL WINNING. BECUASE I PUT MYSELF OUT THERE. And that's something worth celebrating - and it helps to have something to look forward to when you’re in the stressing-out phase! 🥳🍕

6. Continuous Learning: I am OBSESSED with knowledge. As my dad would always say, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. I read self-help books. I watch MasterClass. I even listen to podcasts! The more you can learn about where you want to be from others who've been there, you get so much inspiration applying their stories to your own. BE CURIOUS. NEVER stop learning. Ever. 📚

7. Embrace Failure as Growth: Instead of viewing a loss as a setback, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Some of the most successful people in the world failed MANY times before achieving greatness. And they will KEEP failing, and do you know why? Because they take action. And if you're not failing, you're not trying new things. New things are hard bc they are NEW! And new means growth, and we want more of that! SO WHAT if it doesn't go right? You are a BEGINNER, not an IMPOSTER. Try and try again and again. 👏

Starting TODAY, here's how to take action:

Journaling: When self-doubt creeps in, write it down. Challenge those thoughts with rational counterarguments. Use your journal to track your progress and celebrate your achievements.

Visualize Success: Spend a few minutes each day visualizing your success. Imagine confidently pursuing your side hustle, overcoming challenges, and achieving your goals. Visualization can help rewire your brain for success.

Seek Inspiration: Surround yourself with positive and inspiring content, like motivational books, podcasts, and our community!! Hearing the stories of others who've overcome their fears can provide the encouragement you need.

The fact that you're taking steps and trying is a massive accomplishment! Keep pushing through those doubts, take small actions daily, and celebrate every little success. You've got this! 😄

If you like this newsletter, you'll love the next TWT Event: The Walk. It'll take less time, cost you less than a trip to Target, and give you more self-care than you could find in aisle 9.

By registering for a TWT event, you invest in your personal growth and empower others. Part of your admission fee sponsors scholarships for those in need, fostering self-discovery and confidence in you and others. Please let me know if you or a friend would benefit greatly but face financial constraints, and OF COURSE, we will make it happen.

So, mark your calendar for Oct. 28th at 8 AM in Beverly, and let's take the steps together!"

Love you. Gotta go. Bye. ✌🏻

xoxo

Tamara