How to Build Self-Belief and Stop Second-Guessing Yourself
Build Self-Belief and Stop Overthinking | Jo Renshaw Life Coach
Are you tired of second-guessing yourself, even when things are going well? You’ve done the hard work. You’ve got ambition, and you’re putting yourself out there.
But instead of feeling energised and proud, you feel… uncertain. Like any minute now it could all fall apart.
Maybe you’ve finally got a bite from a new client or your first piece of real traction in your business. And instead of celebrating, your brain floods with thoughts like:
“What I’m doing isn’t enough, I should be doing more.”
“What if they expect more than I can give?”
“What if I can’t actually deliver?”
You’ve worked so hard to get here, but it still doesn’t feel safe to trust your success.
If any of that sounds familiar, let me introduce you to Georgina.
In this blog, you’ll learn how one of my clients shifted from self-doubt to self-belief, exactly what changed for her, and how you can do the same. We’ll explore the simple mindset tools that helped her land her first £3k client, the surprising reason success can still feel overwhelming, and the powerful thought that helped her protect her energy and own her value. If you’re ready to stop second-guessing and start showing up like the version of you who already knows she can do it, keep reading.
Client Story: How Coaching Helped One Woman Build Self-Belief and Land Her First £3K Client
When Georgina first came to coaching, she was doing all the right things. She was showing up at networking events, chasing leads, posting on LinkedIn, following up, building her business from the ground up.
But inside, she still felt unsure. The thought running through her mind was, "What if I can't actually deliver?", a persistent fear that made her question whether she was truly capable, despite all the outward action she was taking.
She had a goal: bring in her first £3,000 client. Not just for the money, but to prove to herself that she could actually do this. That she had something valuable to offer.
One day, she found herself sitting next to a man at a Brighton Chamber breakfast, a man she almost wrote off. But she stayed curious, asked questions, listened deeply, and eventually shared what she could help with. That one conversation turned into a 2.5-hour meeting, a clear proposal, and a signed agreement for a strategic £3,000 project.
It wasn’t just a client win.
It was an identity shift.
She went from “Can I really do this?” to “Of course I can do this.”
And that thought is what created the result, not the other way around.
It wasn’t landing the client that gave her belief. It was the belief that gave her the client. That mindset, rooted in self-trust, is what allowed her to show up with clarity, courage, and conviction. That one thought changed everything.
What Created the Shift: The Mindset Behind Her Success
In coaching, we use a tool called The Model to examine how our thoughts create our results. Here’s what Georgina’s journey looked like through that lens:
Circumstance: Met a potential client at a networking event
Thought: “This is an opportunity.”
Feeling: Excited, open, confident
Action: Engaged, followed up, offered value, set expectations, pitched clearly
Result: she created the opportunity and the £3k agreement
But here’s the thing: success wasn’t the end of the story. Like many of my high-achieving clients, Georgina immediately felt the urge to keep pushing. To work harder. To say yes to everything. To prove she deserved it.
And that’s when we hit pause.
Why Building Self-Belief Requires Boundaries Too
Georgina was waking up tired. She’d stopped going to the gym. She felt like she was “doing everything right” but couldn’t catch her breath.
We realised something important at this point in Georgina’s journey: she wasn’t just building a business, she was the business. Everything hinged on her energy, her mindset, and her well-being.
That’s when we found the thought that would carry her forward:
“I am the asset.”
This new thought creates a feeling of value. So then it wasn't just about scheduling rest or setting boundaries - it was about recognising her value, from a place of feeling her own value, as the asset. Every clear-headed decision, every confident pitch, every moment of calm leadership came from backing herself first.
So we put this thought to work:
Workouts were scheduled in first, not last
Client work was scoped and priced with clarity
Rest and recovery were non-negotiable parts of her routine
All of these actions were fuelled by the belief that her well-being wasn’t optional, it was essential. From this place, she didn’t just take action. She took aligned, sustainable, and powerful action.
How You Can Shift from Self-Doubt to Self-Belief, Too
You don’t have to wait until you “deserve” rest.
You don’t have to keep proving your worth.
You don’t need another qualification or five more hours at your desk.
You need a new thought.
Here’s how to get started:
Notice where self-doubt is creeping in.
What are you telling yourself about your capacity, your pricing, your ability to deliver?Interrupt the cycle with a better feeling thought.
Try: “This is an opportunity,” or “I’ve done this before, I can do it again.” Or my favourite: “I am the asset.”Act like the version of you who already has what you want.
Schedule rest first. Set clear expectations. Price your work with confidence.Celebrate before you move on.
The win is worth noticing. Don’t rush past it.
You can feel proud, successful, and grounded at the same time.
That’s what coaching makes possible.
If you’re tired of overthinking, hiding your light, or burning out just as things start to go right, book a free Discovery Call. I’ll help you see what’s really going on and give you simple tools to move forward with more energy, clarity, and confidence.
This blog is inspired by the work I do with my clients during sessions, and brought to you in partnership with AI.
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