Silencing the Villagers in Your Head and Overcoming Self-Doubt

Do they think I have the skillset? Will I ever get this? What will people say? Capable enough? Experienced enough? — Have any of these crossed your mind?

Personally, 2020 has been a year of trial and tribulation. During the pandemic, I have been working incredibly hard to build my new business and start a new platform with Entwine Living, while also pursuing my love of fitness and learning new skills. Throughout all of these endeavors, I’ve also been trying to stay positive and keep everything afloat. #entrepreneurlife

As exciting as all of this is, self-doubt tends to rear its head when you are growing, building and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone — to do something bigger and create a life that is full. There is no doubt that self-doubt is a part of life. It seems as though I often hear the word “no,” or someone doubting my entrepreneurial path or business decisions. Every time I hear something like this, I always note the feedback and look at each instance as if it’s standing on its own. Most of the time these projections from others have nothing to do with you personally and depending on the context, could debate the truth behind them, yet it’s only natural to start second-guessing yourself and questioning your “why.” Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said it best: “I eat NO’s for breakfast!” And oh my, how I totally can relate! I have to remind myself constantly — this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon — to just continue to stay on my path (which may twist and turn) but to stay on it.

Sometimes our internal struggles tend to trump what’s actually reality since we all put unwarranted expectations on things. When at the end of the day, giving yourself grace and celebrating your imperfections while on your journey are key.

It’s important to keep pushing forward, but isn’t it just as important to lean into these emotions when they come up? This brings me back to the phrase “silencing the villagers in your head” which came from a mentor of mine, who would often say she had these villagers who would pop up in her head to echo negativity whenever she was feeling self-doubt or uncertainty. We need to learn how to quiet these voices and feel confident in our decisions. Arguably, I think it’s healthy to accept these “villagers” for taking up temporary space, as long as you do not allow them to impact your mental health and well-being, essentially doubting your doubts to continue towards your goals. Drowning out the noise through positive affirmation can help push these emotions out the door.

I’m incredibly grateful to have amazing relationships in my life that play a role in keeping me centered. Reading relatable stories on these matters plays a huge role, too. Recently I stumbled upon an uplifting article in Forbes Magazine with tips to tackle my sneaky feelings that helped me shake off this energy. If you are experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or imposter syndrome, I encourage you to allow yourself to recognize your feelings, thank them for stopping by and keep on, keeping on! It’s perfectly OK to not have it all figured out and continue to work towards something bigger than you!

- MEGAN ATKIN // ENTWINE FOUNDER+CEO

Big Mood Inspo:

If you are going to doubt anything about yourself to achieve what you want or change what you don’t, doubt your doubts. — Margie Warrell