Trusting Yourself Again

As life unfolds, even when it brings blessings, the weight of it all can leave us questioning ourselves. After setbacks or seasons of sacrifice, it’s easy to forget how to trust our own voice. But deep inside, that voice—the one that dreamed boldly, hoped endlessly, and moved with purpose—never really left.

Life has been busy lately. Not the draining kind of busy, but the kind filled with goodness—opportunities, growth, and the opening of doors I once believed had long been shut. Big things are happening. Dreams I tucked away have quietly found their way back to me.

And still… I’ve felt myself internally freaking out. The more that comes my way, the more I’ve felt overwhelmed, questioning if I can really handle it all. Can I let you in on a secret?

Becoming a mother was one of my greatest dreams. But as beautiful as it’s been, it hasn’t come without sacrifice. There was a season when it felt like in choosing motherhood, I had to say no to my other dreams. Like I couldn’t be a great mom and build the thriving, purpose-filled career I once imagined.

I struggled with that. I wondered if the world had been right all along—that I couldn’t have it all, that big dreams were naïve, and that the version of me with her head in the clouds needed to come down and face reality.

Only… the dreams didn’t die. My ambition never left. It slowed, maybe, but it never disappeared. Quietly, it kept working through me—one small step at a time. And now? I’m in a season of harvest. It’s big. It’s beautiful. It’s a lot.

The other day, I was on a high-stakes call for an exciting opportunity—one I might have once believed was too big for me. I was sweating bullets, second-guessing myself, and immediately called my partner and then my best friend for reassurance.

They both called me in.

“Strike while the iron’s hot,” they said.

“Remember last year when you thought your dreams had died? And now, here they are, unfolding in real time.”

And then it hit me:

I had stopped trusting myself.

At some point, I let the world convince me that what I imagined wasn’t possible. And when I stopped trusting myself, I also stopped trusting God—my ultimate source of strength and guidance.

Spirituality has always been an anchor for me. My connection to something greater keeps me emotionally grounded. Reconnecting with that faith has brought me back to myself. I’m learning to trust again—not just in what’s happening around me, but in me.

And with that trust comes aliveness. Energy. Joy. I’m not just surviving—I’m living again.

Research in The Journal of Positive Psychology shows that self-trust—rooted in self-efficacy and belief in one’s ability to handle life’s challenges—is strongly linked to emotional well-being, goal attainment, and life satisfaction. Trusting yourself, especially after doubt or delay, helps regulate stress, boost motivation, and renew a sense of purpose.

When we trust ourselves, we give ourselves permission to dream again—and to take bold steps toward the life we were always meant to live.

This week, start rebuilding trust in yourself with these simple steps:

1. Name your wins: Write down three things you’ve overcome that you once doubted you could. Let them remind you of your strength.

   
   

2. Affirm your voice: Each morning, say aloud: “I trust myself. I trust where I’m being led.”

   
   

3. Take the leap: What’s one step you’ve been afraid to take? Do it—even if you’re scared. Let action rebuild the bridge to your inner knowing.

Some Resources:

• Book Recommendation: This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley – A deeply moving reflection on faith, identity, and returning to yourself through spiritual grounding.

• Journal Prompt:  Where in your life have you stopped trusting yourself—and what would it feel like to believe in your voice again?

Trusting yourself doesn’t mean you’ll always have the answers. It means you’re willing to listen to your inner wisdom, even when the world is loud. It’s a return to your voice, your truth, and your dreams—and it’s the path to feeling fully alive again.

🖤Dr. Akilah

This is part of Dr. Akilah's Rewriting the Narrative of Strength series. Read the entire series here!