The Self-Doubt You Harbor, According to Your Zodiac Sign

No matter who we are or where we are in our lives, everyone could use a little less self-doubt. Self-doubt and negative self-talk holds people back every day in countless ways and combating it can be tricky. While everyone’s self-doubt journey is extremely personal, different astrological signs can find themselves with common pain points when it comes to self-doubt and anxiety. By taking a look at how your particular sign handles self-doubt, and how to overcome it, you can begin the difficult (but rewarding) process of eliminating self-doubt from your life.

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Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Aries are naturally very confident, but they can run into trouble as soon as that confidence is shaken. Going on a bad date, losing out on a promotion or any other minor setback can send Aries into a spiral of self-doubt. One of the best things an Aries can do to stop this cycle is to take a look at their work-life balance. If you’re too focused on work, or too focused on some aspect of your social life (*cough*dating*cough*), then any trouble in that area can seem like a way bigger deal than it is. Make sure to keep a healthy balance of work and play, so that you can more easily roll with the punches when they come.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

A typically smooth and steady Taurus can be thrown off kilter when their love for luxury doesn’t quite match up with their IRL budget. Because Tauruses tend to place such a high value on material items, like 1,000-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, their self-esteem can take a hit when they find themselves lying on Amazon basics. When face-to-face with a luxury lifestyle they’re not quite able to afford, Tauruses can become overwhelmed by a crawling sense of insecurity. Start a gratitude list, so that in moments when you’re feeling particularly less-than you can go back and focus on what you do have.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Geminis pride themselves on being flexible, but sometimes that flexibility can make it tough for Geminis to feel good about their decisions. Because Geminis always see the possibilities in everything, when faced with a difficult choice, they often doubt their decisions and worry they’ve made the wrong decision. Sometimes they’ll worry so much about missing out on an opportunity that they won’t make a decision at all, procrastinating in hopes some magical person will come and choose for them. To avoid this, set hard dates for yourself to make your decision by. Enlist a friend or a family member to check in when the choice is made, and take whatever next steps you need before the doubt sets in.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Sensitive Cancers can lose confidence quickly, especially when it comes to their close personal relationships. Cancers care so much about their friends and family, any tension in those relationships can send them on a self-doubt spiral, wondering what they said or did wrong. Sometimes, Cancers can feel like they need near-constant validation to feel secure in their relationships. As a Cancer, you should practice valuing your relationship to yourself, and trusting that if a relationship with a loved one really is in dire straits, they’d probably tell you about it.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Leos are another generally confident sign, but they have a hard time accepting criticism and can be extremely hard on their own appearance. Leos are quite prone to impulsively changing their outfit multiple times before they can finally walk out the door or for complaining about “problem areas” that the rest of the world doesn’t see. To inject a little more Leo love into your life, take a second every day before you leave the house to say one good thing about your appearance. Even if it’s something small like “this nail polish is cute.” It’ll help you to focus more on what you like about yourself, and not what you wish you could change.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Virgos are known for keeping it together, but when they turn their sky-high standards on themselves, self-doubt and social anxiety can follow. Virgos trust themselves to do a lot of things but holding a conversation at a social function is not one of them. This doubt in their own ability to be social and fun can seriously harm their ability to network, holding them back in fields where they should be excelling. The best way to get over this is to consistently put yourself out there, despite self-doubts. Not that you should immediately book a solo trip to Coachella to “see what happens,” but forcing yourself to a friend’s birthday party could help in the long run.

Libra (September 23 – October 21)

Libras can find themselves living in fear of disappointing others, always doubting that they’re being the best friend/spouse/coworker they can be. Because Libras derive so much joy from making others happy, they can often bend over backwards to please, worrying about causing trouble if they say what they really feel. Practice asserting yourself and you’ll slowly learn that the world won’t end if someone is upset with you for a moment.

Scorpio (October 22 – November 21)

A Scorpio’s self-doubt can be particularly tricky, because it can lead to a mistrust in others. As RuPaul would say, if you can’t trust yourself, how in the hell you gonna trust somebody else? Next time you find yourself mistrusting others, take a minute to assess if your fears are actually based on this person, or if you might be projecting your own concerns onto them. Bringing in a more trusting friend or family member can help you see when your apprehensions are legit, versus when they are unfounded.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Sagittarius is always looking for the truth, and always doubting that they’ve found it. The archer’s logical brain is constantly second-guessing their own thoughts and conclusions, essentially gaslighting themselves into not trusting how their own mind works. In moments of self-doubt, Sags should turn to stories from history about trusting in yourself to help bring the message home—just click your heels together three times, Sag.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Capricorns can often feel directionless, despite being one of the most hardworking signs. They can also often end up comparing themselves to others, doubting that the grass will ever be as green on their side of the fence as it is on their neighbor’s. Capricorns in particular can benefit from seeking out a mentor in their field who will help reassure them that they’re on the right track and help them to see their own strengths.

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Aquariuses’ tendency for going against the grain can make them feel like the odd person out. Dancing to the beat of your own drum can get lonely, and it can make Aquarians worry about standing out “too much.” This is why Aquarians should seek out small communities of like-minded people, that won’t make them feel strange or unusual. As an added bonus, those people tend to be more fun anyway.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Pisces are natural-born artists, meaning their career path doesn’t often look like that of the rest of their friends and family. This means Pisces can fall prey to a lot of worrying and doubt over their material successes, i.e., whether or not they’ll be able to “make it” in their chosen field. By practicing stress relief and mindfulness, a Pisces can help to combat this constant doubt and anxiety over the future and focus more on the present.

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