If confronted with a threat, can most people take care of the problem? Can you? Many people really don’t know. They have probably never even considered the possibility of saving their own lives. Others consider it but wonder whether they are capable of fast, decisive, terminal action. This internalized doubt is not in any way a personal fault, it is how society has collectively influenced us. “We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove.”

Once recognized, rather than consume mental energy attempting to understand this collective influence, the negativity from this pattern can be thrown away if you can understand and realistically overcome any influences that are attacking your ‘self.’ Any rational person will experience self-doubt. Understand its source now, when there are no external threats to immediately face. A search at Amazon.com returns thousands of books intending to teach how to conquer self-doubt. Since that many books are available, many people must have this problem. Maybe some of the books work. I have no idea. As usual, I tend to have other opinions.

Doubt comes from the inability (perceived or otherwise) to do something. List what you can’t do in the context of managing threats. If it is a lack of skill, then learn. If it is a lack of action e.g. you can but are being told otherwise, you may need to reconsider your beliefs regarding obeying others and conformity – how important are those to you? “Conformity – the natural instinct to passively yield to that vague something recognized as authority.”

Be sure you are looking at (your) concerns clearly. Are they concerns based on facts? “…we do not deal much in fact when we are contemplating ourselves.” This contemplation should be directed at you and have nothing to do with what others think. “Each man is afraid of his neighbor’s disapproval – a thing which, to the general run of the human race, is more dreaded than wolves and death.” In this quote, I would much rather be representative of the wolves than one who fears the disappointment of others. Why would I concern myself with that vague accolade – approval of others - for my actions? ‘The sheep approve.’ That is not going to banish some self-doubt I have. It would seem more helpful if the sheep did not approve, at least I would know that I was not conforming.

Growth does not come from conformity; growth is the benefit of learning, striving above the mundane, moving outside the herd, realizing that you have capabilities allowing your survival without any need for approval. Don’t yield to authority, choose your actions (and your thoughts) based on your needs in any situation where you find yourself at risk. Non-conformity to the herd can also give you the realization that once you are no longer one of the sheep, it does not necessarily mean you, by default, become a lone wolf. Most wolves do travel in packs, and while they may also carry some self-doubt with them, those doubts do not hinder them at all in a fight. What you choose to “be” is always your choice. Don’t let self-doubt take the choice away from you.

All quotes are from Mark Twain.