“Doubt your doubts before you doubt your beliefs.”

While it is scary to believe in the doubts or uncertainties of our capabilities, it is frightening to realize we are far more powerful and capable than we believe. This truth makes us limitless and gives us a responsibility to live our lives to our fullest potential and greatest self. That is really scary.

As a recent college graduate, I’ve experienced the “real world” and the responsibilities that come with being a “big-girl,” sometimes create a shift in vision. Upon getting my diploma, the dreams I had when I was 5 years old, dreams I thought were still great at 21 years old, began to turn unrealistic or uncertain. I realized these dreams could have the opportunity to produce great failure.

I began to doubt my power and gave power to my doubts. What started as small quivers of self-doubt began to grow into powerful voices in my head saying: “You’re not good enough.” ”This is a crazy idea, you’ll never be able to provide for yourself this way.” “It’s a one in a million shot.” “Why even try?” “What do you have to offer the world that is worthy and inspirational?”

The past month, I’ve been asking myself amidst these doubts, what do I really want to do with my life? In an attempt to see if I could be happy in a “realistic” and “stable” job, I interviewed for a position that would provide for my “big girl” responsibilities. I left the interview with a lack of desire to hear back from the company and felt disappointment when I did.

Teaching at a children’s’ yoga event, I watched as children successfully did advanced poses with little to no yoga experience! They flew up into Scorpion or pushed themselves up into Pincha (Forearm Stand)— poses I worked on for years! I realized their incredible success was a result of fearlessness. They didn’t have a doubt in their minds that if they fell (which they did a lot), they would catch themselves and get right back up (which they did)! And above all else, they believed that despite the falling, they were fully capable of doing these amazing poses!

You see the doubts I have and work to quiet are really just a way for me to avoid facing the most terrifying truth. The truth that these doubts are nothing but lies and I am just as powerful and capable as my 5-year-old self dreamed. These dreams and any dreams for that matter can come true.

Somewhere along the way, I lost my childlike faith. I lost the trust in myself that if I fall, I can pick myself up. I forgot that the life I want to lead will probably require opportunity for great failure, but it also promises greater joy, happiness and love. More importantly, it is all within reach, if I choose to grow towards it. I am powerful enough. I am good enough and worthy enough.

And so, in making this your best year ever, silence your doubts. Give your faith a louder song.

*This was originally written for Bala Vinyasa’s newsletter but thought I’d share it here.