Problem: Article: You will never be able to overcome something if you don't first recognize that it exists and is affecting your decisions. Doubt arises for good reasons. It is not your enemy or a sign of inferiority. What do you doubt? Where do those concerns come from? Asking questions is an important aspect to understanding your actions, so you should never be afraid to ask them, even of yourself. Focusing on what holds you back can help you see which doubts are important. You may find that, after poking through them a bit, your concerns aren't that serious. No one always sees the world clearly all the time. Sometimes we let our emotions cloud judgment, and convince us that certain things are true when they aren't. Ask yourself if you are doing one of the following.  Filtering, or cutting out positive details to focus only on the negative. You may find that you are focused on one unpleasant detail, which darkens the view you have of the task in front of you. Don't ignore that detail, but instead look at all the others as well. Many situations have positive aspects you can look at as well. Overgeneralization, where we use a single piece of evidence to draw larger conclusions. If we see something bad happen once, we suddenly expect it to repeat. Sometimes these over-generalizations lead to jumping to conclusions, immediately thinking we have a larger problem figured out based on a small piece of data, rather than trying to find out more. Never be afraid to look for more information, more data, especially pieces that may challenge your generalizations. Catastrophizing, focusing on the worst possible outcome. You may find yourself asking, "What if something terrible happens to me?" This worst-case scenario thinking can lead people to overemphasize small mistakes, or minimize certain positive events that may also be important. Give yourself confidence by thinking about the best-case scenarios, and what you want to accomplish. Neither of these events may come true, but thinking about the best case can alleviate doubts that come from fearing the worst. Emotional reasoning, where we take our feelings as the truth. You may find yourself saying "If I feel something, it must be true." Remember that your perspective is limited, and your feelings can only tell part of the story. In questioning your doubts, you may find some of them are unreasonable. Reasonable doubts are based on the probability that you are trying to do something beyond your capabilities.  Ask yourself if your task is similar to something you have already done before, especially if that last task required you to grow. If it is, then you don't need to doubt your capability. Unreasonable doubts tend to come from cognitive distortions, and if you identify those in your thinking, your doubts may be unreasonable. It may be good to write down your feelings, whether in a journal or diary. This can help you keep track of and sort through your thoughts and emotions. When you regularly ask others to affirm your ideas, you send the implicit message that you don't trust yourself. Seeking reassurance is not the same thing as asking for advice. Sometimes an outside perspective can help you get a clearer sense of your concerns. If your doubt is related to a skill or expertise, talking to someone who has been successful can help clarify a way forward. Remember though, that you are the one ultimately making this decision.
Summary: Acknowledge your doubt. Question your doubt. Recognize and challenge common cognitive distortions. Distinguish between reasonable and unreasonable doubts. Avoid seeking reassurance.

Problem: Article: You may jump to conclusions instead of getting all of the information first. Instead of jumping to conclusions or making a snap judgment, wait until you have all of the information. And while you’re at it, avoid planning your next move if you’re in an argument. Instead, ask questions and seek to understand the full situation before assigning a judgment or emotionally investing yourself. If you’re upset that your partner is late, don’t jump to conclusions as to why he may be late. Instead, gently ask what happened without coming across as judgmental or accusing. If someone is emotionally reactive in an argument, don’t meet this reactivity with more reactivity. Instead, practice active listening skills. Reacting to another person’s strong emotions will likely escalate the situation and will not contribute to a solution. For example, if someone is angry and is attacking you, don’t go straight to the defense. Instead, hear the person out, make an effort to understand her thoughts and feelings, ask questions, and calmly reply. By blaming, you automatically put someone on the defensive, which can lead to conflict. The other person may also be more likely to blame you back for something. Claim your emotions as a way of not blaming others and taking responsibility for your emotions. By claiming your emotions as your own, you gain control of them. Instead of blaming someone by saying, “You didn't show up and you blew me off again; you’re such a jerk,” say, “I felt really hurt and abandoned that you didn’t show this evening, and I felt confused that you didn't let me know you weren’t coming.”
Summary:
Inquire before judging. Avoid reacting to emotional outbursts. Use “I” statements.