Discover Your Inner Genie

No limits? Powers beyond our dreams? Doing what we thought we couldn’t? Definitely sounds like someone’s rubbed a magic lamp, let the genie out, and given us three wishes!

Recently, we asked a group of high school and college students to imagine their learning world just like that. We said, “what would it be like if you knew you could learn anything?” Eagerly and without hesitation the answers flowed: “Amazing!” “I’d feel like a genius!” “I’d feel much better.” “Confident!” And there was the crux of it: for many of us, we can only consider being limitless in an imaginary world.

Self-doubt keeps us from that power. And it’s a ruthless companion, downgrading abilities no matter how good they are and flinging future disasters that stop us in a heartbeat. But for all its negativity, self-doubt has a purpose: to keep us from failing. Trouble is, stopping is a failure to try.

Want to learn more, speak better, surf better, be better in any way but have blocking doubts? They can be sidelined. Face them down with acknowledgement and logic. “Yes,” you might say, “I could fail, but that’s not the only possibility. I could also succeed, even a little. Then I’d get …” Now bring up all the rewards, the praise, the pride, the prizes you would reap. When doubt fires back with tragic pictures — like disappointing others or showing your weaknesses — reply “true. But that makes me more human, and to many, more likeable. Another win!”

Now act. With your eyes on the prizes, take one small, easy step in that direction. Get new tools, practice more, find a new teacher, talk to your supporters, watch the experts, ask for advice. Then another step, and probably another chat with doubt. But now you can go around it.

And, you can let the genie out of that cramped lamp!