Have you ever found yourself asking others for advice on even the smallest decisions? Maybe you hesitate before making a choice, feeling like someone else must know better than you do. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve struggled with this too, and I’ve had to learn how to trust myself over time. Many people face this challenge, especially when anxiety makes everything feel uncertain. The good news? You can learn to trust yourself, and it doesn’t require perfection—just practice.
There are many reasons why self-trust can feel out of reach. Maybe you grew up in an environment where your thoughts and feelings were dismissed, making it hard to believe in your own judgment. Or perhaps you’ve made mistakes in the past, and now you fear making the wrong choice again. Anxiety often amplifies this struggle, making decisions feel overwhelming and urgent.
When we constantly look to others for guidance, we send ourselves the message that our own opinions don’t matter as much. Over time, this weakens our ability to feel confident in our choices. But the truth is, you have the wisdom you need inside of you. It’s just been buried under self-doubt and fear.
1. Pause Before Seeking Advice
The next time you feel the urge to ask someone else what you should do, take a breath. Instead of immediately reaching out, sit with the decision for a moment. Ask yourself: What do I think? What feels right to me? Even if an answer doesn’t come right away, giving yourself space to consider it is the first step.
2. Start Small
If making big decisions feels overwhelming, start with small ones. What would you like to eat for lunch? Which book do you want to read? These everyday choices help build confidence in your own preferences. The more you practice, the more natural self-trust will feel.
3. Accept That Mistakes Are Part of Growth
One of the biggest fears that comes with self-doubt is making a mistake. But mistakes are not proof that you’re incapable—they’re proof that you’re learning. No one makes perfect decisions all the time. Trusting yourself doesn’t mean always being right; it means believing that you can handle whatever happens next.
4. Tune Into Your Inner Voice
Your intuition is like a quiet friend—it’s there, but it needs you to listen. When making a decision, check in with your body and emotions. Does a choice make you feel tense or uneasy? Does it bring relief or excitement? These subtle signals can guide you toward what feels right for you.
5. Celebrate Your Decisions
Each time you make a decision—no matter how small—acknowledge it. Even if it’s as simple as choosing what movie to watch, remind yourself, I made that choice on my own, and that’s a step forward. Small wins add up over time and help reinforce your confidence.
If you struggle with anxiety, your thoughts might often feel overwhelming and conflicting. It can be hard to know what’s intuition and what’s fear. One way to tell the difference is to check in with your emotions. Anxiety usually feels urgent, panicked, or pressured. Intuition, on the other hand, tends to feel calm, even if it leads to a challenging choice.
When anxiety is loud, grounding techniques can help. Try deep breathing, journaling, or stepping outside for fresh air. Getting your body out of fight-or-flight mode can make it easier to hear your true inner voice.
Building self-trust won’t happen overnight, and that’s okay. Be gentle with yourself as you practice. Over time, you’ll notice that you’re relying less on others and more on your own inner wisdom. And as your confidence grows, so will your ability to navigate life’s decisions with greater ease.
You already have what it takes to trust yourself. You just need to give yourself permission to listen.
If you’d like to learn more about anxiety and/or are needing support in building self-trust, we invite to you visit our anxiety specialty page:
If you’d like to connect with us, we welcome you to do so here.
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