Struggling with doubt?

Mindfulness helps me cope with the old conditioned doubt that arises most days.

If you’ve ever felt a wave of hesitation over something you know you’re perfectly capable of — making a decision, speaking up, choosing a direction — you’re not alone. That’s not present‑moment wisdom talking. That’s old, conditioned doubt doing what it learned to do decades ago.

It’s like having a tiny, overprotective librarian in your mind whispering, “Shhh… are you sure?” even when you’re just trying to live your life.

🧠 The Science: Doubt Has a Long Memory

Neuroscience tells us that the brain is a pattern‑making machine. When we’re young, our nervous system absorbs experiences like a sponge — especially the ones that involve approval, safety, or belonging. If you grew up hearing things like:

• “Be careful.”

• “Don’t get it wrong.”

• “You’re too much.”

• “You’re not ready.”

…your brain stored those messages as templates for how to stay safe.

The amygdala (our threat detector) doesn’t distinguish between real danger and emotional danger. So when you try something new as an adult, it sometimes reacts as if you’re about to be chased by a bear, not simply sending a proposal or trying a new class.

Old doubt is basically your nervous system saying, “This reminds me of that time you were seven and someone frowned at you. Let’s not repeat that.”

🌱 A Little Anecdote (Because We’ve All Been There)

A woman once told me she avoided joining a pottery class for months because she was convinced she’d “do it wrong.” When she finally went, the instructor said, “There is no wrong. There’s just clay.”

She laughed — and then cried — because the doubt she’d been carrying wasn’t about pottery at all. It was about a teacher from childhood who told her she was “messy” and “not artistic.”

That’s the thing about conditioned doubt: it often belongs to a much younger version of us.

🔁 Why It Feels So Real (Even When It’s Not)

Conditioned doubt is sticky because:

• It’s familiar. The brain loves the familiar, even when it’s unhelpful.

• It’s protective. Doubt tries to keep us from embarrassment, rejection, or failure.

• It’s outdated. It’s using old data to interpret new situations.

Think of it like an operating system that hasn’t been updated since 1998. It’s doing its best, but it’s not exactly optimised for your current life.

🌤️ A Reframe for the Week Ahead

When doubt shows up, especially the old, conditioned kind, try greeting it with curiosity rather than frustration:

• Is this doubt about the present moment, or is it an echo from the past?

• Whose voice does this sound like?

• What is this doubt trying to protect me from?

Often, simply naming it loosens its grip.

✨ A Closing Thought

You’re not broken because you doubt yourself. You’re human — and you’re carrying a nervous system that learned to keep you safe long before you had the tools you have now.

Old doubt may still knock, but you don’t have to let it drive. You can thank it for its service, take a breath, and step forward anyway.

Because the truth is: you’re not the person you were when that doubt first formed. You’re wiser, braver, and far more capable than your old conditioning ever imagined.

Mindfulness practices can help.

Mindful concentration activates the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for perspective, regulation, and choice.

Breathing slowly signals the vagus nerve, shifting your body from “threat mode” to “I’m okay.”

You’re literally changing your internal chemistry with each breath.

Mindfulness creates a pause — a tiny gap between the old story and your current reality.

In that gap, you can choose:

• kindness over criticism

• curiosity over fear

• presence over autopilot

  
  

This is where change begins.

Need support with your practice? Reach out to book a 121 or join a group session.