How to succeed when you don’t believe you can

Believe it, achieve it.

Do you agree?

Beliefs are important; that’s why I spend a lot of time helping my coaching clients develop beliefs that serve them. When you believe you can do it, you take more action. You show up differently. Success becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Beliefs make everything easier. But …

Too often, we mistake a lack of belief for evidence that our goals aren’t possible. (E.g., “Since I don’t believe I could actually be a New York Times bestseller, I shouldn’t bother aiming for that … even though that’s what I really want.”) And then we do nothing—or worse, self sabotage by making decisions and engaging in behaviors that are at odds with what we want.

This is where process comes in.

If you don’t believe in your big dreams just yet, I want to encourage you to come up with the sort of plan you’d make if you did believe—then start taking action.

Because taking action is a key way you develop belief. In fact, it helps you believe faster. Every time you do something that moves you toward your goal, you’re affirming that you’re a person who's capable of achieving it.

Which is to say: instead of just trying to think your way to success, trust the process.

Then start writing.