Here's how you can overcome self-doubt and negative thoughts post speaking career setback.

Start by reframing the experience—view it as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than a failure. Reflect on what went wrong, but don’t dwell on it. Instead, focus on what you can do differently next time. Surround yourself with positive influences—mentors, peers, or supportive friends who can offer constructive feedback and encouragement. Practice self-compassion by acknowledging your achievements and recognizing that everyone encounters obstacles. Set small, manageable goals to rebuild your confidence step by step. Finally, visualize your future successes and keep pushing forward, knowing that each challenge brings you closer to mastering your craft. Embrace the journey, and let your setbacks fuel your determination to rise stronger.

The first thing to do is pause. Just breathe and look around. Look at the floor you're standing on and feel blood pumping across your body. After realising where you are, evaluate how you can best react to what is being said to you. Take it in with a pinch of salt but understand that there is always room for improvement so listen carefully and see if you can improve in some way.

"When faced with a setback, I believe it's important to acknowledge and accept the feelings of disappointment or frustration that arise. Recognizing these emotions allows me to heal, reflect, and treat myself with kindness. I understand that setbacks are a natural part of any career journey, and I strive to use these experiences as stepping stones to grow and move forward."

Setbacks happen in every career, and it's important to recognize the emotions that come with them, like disappointment or frustration. Instead of pushing these feelings away, accept them as normal and use them as a chance to reflect and grow. By being kind to yourself and focusing on what you can learn from the experience, you can turn setbacks into opportunities for future success. In the end, it's how you respond to challenges that really shapes your career.

When it comes to doubt vs. confidence. CONFIDENCE is always the solution. Developing a confident mindset is essential to achieving goals and building success. Here's how I use CONFIDENCE as an acronym: Consistently Overcoming Negative Feelings Increases Determination and Encourages New Client Engagement

"After a setback, I rebuild my confidence by setting realistic, achievable goals. By focusing on small, measurable steps—like refining my presentation skills or trying new audience engagement techniques—I gradually regain my momentum. Each accomplishment boosts my motivation, helping me overcome self-doubt and move forward with renewed confidence."

Are you more focused on short-term or long-term goals? Aligning short-term achievements with your long-term vision can help build lasting equity. What’s your long-term vision? Here's a great acronym to help you put it all in perspective: V.I.S.I.O.N. Value Immediate Success In Overarching Narrative

In the wake of a setback, rebuilding confidence begins by establishing achievable goals. It's vital to recalibrate your expectations and devise a realistic plan. Concentrate on small, incremental steps that assist in regaining your stability. Whether it involves refining your speech delivery or exploring innovative ways to engage your audience, these objectives should be specific and measurable. Achieving each goal will generate a sense of progress and motivation, essential for overcoming self-doubt and empowering yourself to move forward.

Recuperar la confianza no es solo cuestión de metas; se trata de rediseñar tu enfoque. Establecer objetivos realistas es el primer paso, pero lo crucial es adoptar una mentalidad flexible que te permita ajustarte a cada nueva situación. Cada pequeño logro debe ser visto como una prueba tangible de tu capacidad de adaptación y crecimiento, fortaleciendo así tu determinación para seguir avanzando sin titubeos.

A failure or a setback does not necessarily means that the goal was wrong or unrealistic. So when we talk about recalliberation, it should not be restricted to recliberate the goals only. It could very well be the situation where your goals were right and realistic but the problem was with the execution. These days, a lot of focus is given on the setting of goals which is right but the execution part often gets ignored which is wrong. And because of it, many times we fail in achieving a very realistic goal as well.

"To overcome self-doubt, I actively seek constructive feedback from trusted colleagues and mentors. This feedback helps me identify areas for improvement while reinforcing my strengths. I view it not as criticism but as a valuable opportunity for growth, using it to continually enhance my skills."

Feedback: Solicited or Unsolicited? A proactive approach is more likely to lead to valuable improvements You have to keep feeding it. Here's how I remember: F.E.E.D. Foster Engagement and Encourage Dialogue

Overcoming self-doubt can be effectively achieved by actively seeking constructive feedback. Engage with trusted colleagues, mentors, or audience members to obtain their candid opinions. This feedback offers valuable insights into areas for improvement and affirmations of your existing strengths. It's imperative to understand that feedback is not solely about criticism but rather an avenue for personal growth. Embrace feedback as an opportunity to learn and refine your speaking skills, recognizing its role in your continued development and enhancement.

La retroalimentación no debe ser vista únicamente como un instrumento de mejora, sino como un espejo que refleja tu evolución. Busca opiniones que te desafíen a salir de tu zona de confort y te obliguen a confrontar tus debilidades con honestidad. Este proceso, lejos de ser una simple validación, es un camino hacia la autoconciencia profunda, esencial para desarrollar una oratoria que resuene con autenticidad y poder.

"Self-belief".. Yes.. Developing the habit of self-belief is the most important thing when in doubt. One can definitely seek others' advice, but in order to select one's guidance, you must have the utmost belief in yourself that yeah I got the great advise and I can follow the given path and overcome the hardships.

"Visualization is my go-to technique for overcoming negative thoughts. By regularly imagining myself delivering a successful speech and feeling the audience's positive reactions, I build confidence and make success feel within reach. This mental rehearsal turns my aspirations into something tangible and achievable."

Visualization is indeed a potent method for combating negative thoughts. Devote time each day to visualizing yourself delivering a successful speech. Envision the audience's positive responses, the applause, and the gratification of making a meaningful impact. This mental rehearsal effectively bolsters your confidence and can contribute to materializing success in your public speaking engagements. The more vividly you can imagine your achievements, the more tangible they become, nurturing a sense of attainability and reinforcing a positive mindset.

The battlefield starts in the mind! We have to take a mental survey of who or what is cultivating these negative thoughts and replace them with FACTUAL TRUTHS! "I am above and not beneath". "I may not be where I want to be, but I am not where I use to be". I would also make sure I am not observing others wins too much. Comparison kills. Self-love heals.

Visualization is a powerful tool to help you achieve speaking success. The key is to ensure you are rehearsing mentally while adding emotion and your senses to the practice. According to the functional equivalence hypothesis (Jeannerod, 2001), similar brain function is detected during both the mental practice and execution of an action. This means that by imagining yourself delivering a successful speech in detail, you can effectively train your brain to perform as if you’ve already done it.

Actually I disagree to this to some extent. Visualization is helpful only when you are only delivering the speech wherein yiur job is to just speak and go. But the moment you start interacting with the audience or to be precise a debate or impromptu, visualization acts as a hindrance as you are prepared for yourself only but not for your counterparts.

"In motivational speaking, I believe that continuous learning is essential to overcoming challenges. By staying updated on the latest techniques, attending workshops, and constantly seeking new knowledge, I equip myself with the tools to enhance my speaking abilities. This proactive approach ensures I'm always evolving and ready to inspire others with fresh insights."

In the realm of motivational speaking, continuous learning is essential for surmounting setbacks. Keep abreast of the latest speaking techniques, participate in workshops, and delve into books on public speaking and personal development. Each new piece of knowledge obtained provides additional tools to enrich your speaking capabilities. This steadfast dedication to growth not only enhances your skills but also underscores your proactive approach in shaping your success. By committing to ongoing learning and improvement, you fortify your expertise and demonstrate an active pursuit of your professional advancement.

Learning is a messy, never-ending process. It’s less about getting it right and more about staying curious, even when things fall apart. The real trick? Don't cling to what you think you know—be ready to unlearn, to adapt. The best insights come from the moments when you’re off balance, rethinking everything. Stay sharp, stay humble, and keep moving forward—not because it’s easy, but because that’s how you get better.

"Building resilience is crucial when recovering from setbacks in my speaking career. By cultivating a network of supportive peers and keeping a positive outlook, I stay motivated and focused on my past successes. Every challenge becomes a chance to grow, and with this mindset, I find that my ability to overcome obstacles and achieve success is limitless."

With proven predictable pattern of success over my 30 year plus career! I find your mindset is critical. Keep a shield around your mind as protection. Only allowing positive thoughts in. When this becomes your daily activities, you become much more attractive towards others. Building relationships becomes easier and the words you speak become inspirational. Building a resilience overtime just gets better!