Many people are surprised to learn that I’m introverted rather than extroverted, and routinely battle self-doubt and anxiousness. I’ve learned to act in effective ways — stepping forward, starting conversations, boldly publishing and broadcasting, acting counter to the crowd when I disagree.
Most people have doubts. They struggle with occasional bouts of anxiousness. It’s common, and these are valuable. Let me explain why.
Picture your situation like driving a car — you have a brake, an accelerator, and a steering wheel. Self-doubt and anxiousness are brakes on your contribution. Boldness and action are the accelerator. You have choices about where to steer.
Narcissists and psychopaths don’t have any brakes. They constantly stomp on the accelerator. They’re a tremendous hazard to the people around them.
Embrace your doubts and anxiousness as friends to keep you humble and from preventable error. Use your judgment to decide when to accelerate harder or to coast.
