“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” —Michael Jordan
Think back to when you were a child. The world was filled with endless possibilities, and nothing seemed impossible. You wanted to be an astronaut, a rock star, a scientist, or maybe all three at once. You didn’t question whether you could—you simply believed.
Somewhere along the way, that belief started to fade. Adulthood has a way of chipping away at our confidence. Society teaches us to be realistic, practical, and careful. We start to fear failure. The dreams we once held onto so tightly now seem too far away, too risky, or just downright impossible.
This loss of faith is one of the biggest obstacles standing between us and our potential. It’s not just about doubting our abilities—it’s about losing the willingness to even try. But why does this happen, and more importantly, how can we reclaim that childlike faith in ourselves?
Let’s explore how losing faith happens and, most importantly, how we can overcome it.
Why Do We Lose Faith in Ourselves?
1. The Fear of Failure Becomes Too Strong
As children, we embrace failure as part of the learning process. We fall while learning to walk, and we get back up. But as adults, failure feels more personal. Instead of seeing it as growth, we take it as proof that we’re not good enough.
The more we experience setbacks, the more we hesitate to take risks. We start saying things like, “I could never do that,”or “That’s too hard for me.” Eventually, these thoughts become our reality.
2. We Stop Taking Small Risks
Success doesn’t come in one giant leap—it happens through small, consistent actions. However, when we lose faith, we stop taking these small steps. We wait for the perfect time, the perfect plan, and the perfect circumstances. But perfection never comes, and in the meantime, our self-belief erodes.
3. We Forget How to Celebrate Progress
A major factor in faith loss is the inability to recognize progress. When we were younger, every little achievement was celebrated. But as adults, we move the goalposts too quickly. Instead of recognizing how far we’ve come, we only see how far we still have to go.
The result? A constant feeling of not being good enough, leading us to question if success is even possible.
4. Dopamine: The Missing Link
Dopamine, our brain’s reward chemical, plays a massive role in perseverance. When we lose faith in ourselves, it often means our brain isn’t getting enough of this motivation-boosting neurotransmitter.
Without dopamine, pushing through struggles feels unbearable. This is why people give up—it’s not that they lack ability, but rather that their brain isn’t receiving enough positive reinforcement to keep going.
How to Restore Faith in Yourself
1. Train Your Brain to Associate Effort with Pleasure
You can rewire your brain to associate perseverance with reward. The trick? Visualize yourself getting a dopamine hit every time you take action.
Try this:
- Every time you complete a task, close your eyes and imagine your brain lighting up with dopamine.
- Picture success as a series of small wins, each one giving you a boost of energy.
- Instead of dreading hard work, see it as something that makes you stronger.
This technique trains your brain to crave progress rather than fear failure.
2. Reframe Struggles as Confidence-Building Opportunities
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” —Henry Ford
Instead of seeing challenges as proof of inadequacy, see them as opportunities to grow. Every obstacle you overcome is another piece of evidence that you can handle whatever comes next.
A simple mindset shift:
- Instead of saying, “This is too hard,” say, “This is making me stronger.”
- Instead of thinking, “I’m not good enough,” say, “I’m learning and improving.”
When you frame struggles as growth opportunities, you’ll start embracing challenges rather than avoiding them.
3. Create a “Wins” Journal
Losing faith in yourself often comes from forgetting past successes. Combat this by keeping a wins journal where you document every accomplishment—big or small.
Examples of what to write:
✅ A time you stepped out of your comfort zone
✅ A problem you solved that once seemed impossible
✅ A day when you stayed consistent despite feeling unmotivated
On days when self-doubt creeps in, revisit your wins. It’s a powerful reminder of what you’re capable of.
4. Reward Yourself for Small Steps
Waiting to celebrate until you reach your final goal is a mistake. Instead, celebrate every step forward.
Ways to do this:
- Treat yourself to something small after completing a task.
- Acknowledge and praise yourself for sticking to the process.
- Turn your morning routine into a dopamine-releasing ritual (listening to uplifting music, drinking a favorite coffee, etc.).
The more you reward positive actions, the more your brain will crave them.
5. Surround Yourself with People Who Believe in You
Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
If you constantly surround yourself with people who are pessimistic or who don’t believe in personal growth, your faith will dwindle. Seek out people who:
✔ Encourage you to push forward
✔ Remind you of your strengths
✔ Inspire you to think bigger
Sometimes, a single conversation with the right person can restore your confidence instantly.
6. Take Small Risks Every Day
Faith grows through action. Start by taking small risks that push you outside of your comfort zone.
- Speak up in a meeting.
- Try a new skill without worrying about being perfect.
- Apply for an opportunity, even if you don’t feel ready.
Every time you take a small risk and survive, you’re proving to yourself that you can handle more. Over time, these small wins snowball into unshakable self-belief.
Conclusion: Reignite Your Faith
Losing faith in yourself is not a sign that you’re incapable—it’s simply a sign that your brain needs a reset. Faith is not something you either have or don’t have—it’s something you build, brick by brick, through action, perspective shifts, and intentional effort.
By training your brain to associate perseverance with pleasure, celebrating progress, surrounding yourself with the right people, and taking consistent small risks, you can regain the faith that once came so naturally.
Remember: You are capable. You are strong. And you can achieve far more than you think—so long as you believe in yourself enough to try.
As Steve Jobs once said:
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
Are you ready to reclaim your faith?
