Parents who treat their child harshly often instill this pattern. In this process, the child suppresses their own desires, thoughts, and knowledge. Self-worth and confidence are ignored and never developed.

Many describe this feeling as doubt: *I doubt I know enough; I doubt I understood you correctly; I doubt my work is good enough.* Confusing doubt with anxiety, we chase the thoughts and desires of others, convincing ourselves we’ve done something wrong.

This cycle isn’t just about fear—guilt often plays a significant role. Guilt becomes a habit, preventing us from believing in our abilities and our knowledge. The internal tremor we feel is focused entirely on maintaining relationships with those who seem "better" than us.

The only way to stop doubting yourself is to start trusting your own thoughts and feelings—without twisting or suppressing them. When we doubt our emotions, we hand control of our lives to someone else, not realizing that they’re focused on their own interests, not ours.

As long as others’ opinions matter more than your own, you’ll remain in inner conflict. As long as others are more important than you, you’ll feel like you’re always a step below them. Try protecting yourself the way you’d protect your own child—prioritizing their interests and emotions.

Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions, your own fears, or unclear thoughts drown out your inner voice. As long as you’re worried about what others think of you, you’re under their control. Self-esteem is about what *you* think of yourself. 😊