Breaking the Chrysalis: How to Move Through Self-Doubt to Reach Your Goals
Photo credit: Karen Lynch
If you’ve ever set your sights on a meaningful goal—one that feels personal, expansive, and just a little bit scary—you’ve probably met the voice of self-doubt somewhere along the way.
It often shows up after you've made some real progress. Just when you start to see glimpses of the new you… bam! A little whisper creeps in: What if I can’t keep this up? What if I slip back into old habits? What if all this effort was for nothing?
The Truth About Self-Doubt
Here’s the truth: feeling that doubt doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re transforming.
Growth doesn’t always look like a steady upward climb. Sometimes (often) it’s messy. Sometimes it feels like you’ve taken a step backward. But that doesn’t mean you’re not moving forward. It means you’re right in the middle of change—doing the work, showing up, becoming a new version of you.
Think of a Butterfly breaking free from its chrysalis. It’s not a graceful or easy process. It’s a struggle. But that struggle is what strengthens its wings. Without it, the Butterfly wouldn’t survive. 🦋
The same is true for you. That resistance you’re feeling? It’s not a sign to stop. It’s a sign to keep going. Because you’re on the edge of something powerful.
Your “chrysalis” might be old thought patterns. Past experiences that told you growth isn’t sustainable. The fear of slipping back into old ways. That fear is real, but it’s not the truth. It’s just your brain trying to protect you from the unknown.
But here’s the good news: you’re not who you were before. You’ve already created change—and you already have what it takes to continue.
How to Break Through Self-Doubt
When doubt shows up, try asking yourself:
🦋 Is this moving me toward the version of myself I want to become?
🦋 What would the “New Me” do in this moment?
🦋 What thoughts would support the version of me I’m creating?
Visualize her. Feel what it’s like to be her. Let that version of you lead the way.
And when those old thoughts come up, you don’t have to argue with them. Just acknowledge them and lovingly say, “Thanks for trying to keep me safe, but I’m choosing something better.”
Transformation takes time. It takes intentionality. It takes believing in a version of yourself you haven’t fully met yet.
But she’s coming.
And every time you choose a thought, an action, a habit that aligns with her—you’re helping her break free.
So if you’re feeling the tension right now… the discomfort… the fear… take heart. You’re not stuck—you’re becoming.
What’s one small step you can take today to keep moving toward that version of you?
(If this message resonated with you, I invite you to scroll down and sign up for my Sunday Soul Care emails. You’ll receive an email from me each Sunday with an Oracle card reading for guidance, and a message crafted with love by me to uplift, inspire, and empower you to live more soulfully. I’d love to connect with you!)
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