3 Bad Habits That Increase My Insecurities

And what I want to do about it.

What if everyone thinks I’m a fraud?

That’s something that comes up in my mind quite a lot. Do you recognize this?

Welcome to the club of overthinkers and self-doubters.

You’re not alone.

In this article, I’ll show you 3 habits that make me feel bad about myself.

1 — Doubting my own ability

Commonly known as “imposter syndrome”

This psychological condition makes people wonder if they are good enough at something they’ve been doing objectively well enough.

You’re basically afraid of being exposed as a fraud.

It’s something high achievers often encounter because they can’t accept their own abilities and achievements.

And it’s really hard to believe in yourself.

I know that I achieved certain things, but still, I feel like I’m not capable of doing the job. It’s nonsense but it happens.

And it makes me insecure.

For example right before heading into a meeting where I lead the whole thing I feel like I can’t do it. But I’ve done it for more than a year now and everybody tells me that I’m doing well.

What am I going to do about it?

I need to start by realizing those doubts in my head aren’t the full story.

Just because I feel like a fraud sometimes doesn’t mean I am one. I’ve got to look back at my successes and recognize them for what they are — the results of my hard work and skills, not just luck.

I also have to start setting more realistic expectations for myself.

It’s okay to not be perfect all the time — everyone makes mistakes, and that doesn’t make them a fraud.

Self-compassion is key here.

And when I feel nervous before leading a meeting, I’ll remind myself that I’ve been doing this for over a year now, and people have told me I’m good at it.

That’s not nothing.

I am more capable than I give myself credit for.

2 — Making assumptions about people’s opinions of me

I’m incredibly insecure.

It’s like I’m always playing a guessing game, trying to figure out what others think of me. I often catch myself imagining the worst, believing they see me as stupid or annoying.

This constant worry about others’ perceptions can be exhausting.

It’s as if I’m stuck in my own head, making up stories that probably aren’t even true.

I realize I need to stop assuming and start focusing on the facts.

People’s opinions aren’t always what we think they are, and more often than not, they’re actually more positive than I expect — I’ve got to learn to let go of these unfounded fears and trust in my own worth.

I need to remind myself that I can’t read minds and that it’s not healthy to try.

Instead, I should focus on my actions and their outcomes, not on the imagined judgments of others — by doing so, I can start to break free from this cycle of insecurity and build a more confident, self-assured version of myself.

3 — Overthinking non-existent scenarios

This is something interconnected with the previous habit.

Many people nowadays tend to overthink a lot and that’s what makes them very insecure about so many things — it causes stress and anxiety.

We often find ourselves lost in endless ‘what if’ scenarios.

It’s creating problems in our minds that don’t actually exist in reality. This habit of overthinking can be paralyzing, as it magnifies fears and doubts, leading to a cycle of constant worry and stress.

What am I going to do about it?

The key is to catch myself in the act of overthinking and consciously shift my focus to the present moment.

I need to remind myself that these scenarios are just figments of my imagination, not predictions of the future.

Practicing mindfulness and grounding techniques can help me stay anchored in the here and now, reducing the space for unnecessary worries to grow.

Also, engaging in activities that require my full attention can be a great way to break the cycle of overthinking — by learning to control this habit, I can significantly reduce my stress and anxiety levels, leading to a more peaceful and confident state of mind.

Final Thoughts

So, wrapping it all up, dealing with feeling like a fraud, guessing what others think of us, and overthinking stuff that hasn’t even happened are all linked together.

They can really mess with our heads, making us stressed and insecure — the trick is to notice when we’re doing this and then actively try to switch gears.

We need to focus on what’s real, right now, not on the scary ‘what ifs’.

It’s about remembering that our value doesn’t come from these worries, but from what we can actually do and have done.

With a bit of effort and some patience, we can change the way we think to be more supportive and positive about ourselves.

It’s like turning down the volume on the negative stuff and cranking up the good vibes.