Overcoming Insecurities

Whether you're a recent graduate searching for a job, a seasoned industry veteran seeking a challenging new position, or a high-level manager making important decisions for the organization, it's common to experience insecurity. Follow these six tips to overcome your fears and keep your insecurities at bay.

1. Dissect Your Fears

Determine exactly what it is that makes you insecure. Whether you fear public speaking or feel uncomfortable during one-on-one conversations, dissect your insecurities to determine what really worries you. Think logically about your fear, and decide what the worst possible outcome is if you don't do well. You're not likely to lose your job as the result of a subpar public presentation, so don't let the fear of failure consume your thoughts and create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

2. Practice Your Insecurities Away

Preparation and practice often help to alleviate insecurities. If the thought of going into a job interview terrifies you, practice every aspect of the situation. Research common interview questions, think carefully about your response to each question, and carry out mock interviews with friends, family or co-workers. The more you prepare for the situation, the more confident you feel entering into it.

3. Push Past the Fear

Don't let your insecurities overcome you. Recognize and acknowledge your fears, and then take the risk anyway. By stepping outside of your comfort zone, fear becomes a natural part of your life and you are better able to cope with insecurities that arise in the future.

4. Create Clear-Cut Goals

Whether you have a bucket list or a mental catalog of things you want to accomplish some day, start checking off items. Don't let your insecurities and fears keep you from these achievements. Make sure your goals are specific, and come up with a reasonable time frame that you can hold yourself to.

5. Let Go of Regrets

Don't let yourself wallow in regret. While it may be difficult to look back on chances that you didn't take, realize that every experience you had or missed out on brought you to the point where you are now. Rather than regretting the past, use these missed opportunities as a lesson for the future.

6. Stop Making Excuses

Don't let a laundry list of excuses keep you from accomplishing your goals. Excuses are simply a side effect of fear. Make a list of the real obstacles that stand in your way, and come up with a solution for each obstacle. Follow this strategy until you achieve your goal.

When you find your insecurities creeping back up, follow these six tips to overcome your fears and feel more confident. While it's natural to feel insecure at times in personal and professional situations, it's important to know how to handle your insecurities in a positive and productive way.

Photo courtesy of Master isolated images at FreeDigitalPhotos.net