Insecurities are rooted in our experiences. They may start as far back as childhood.Finding the root cause of your insecurities is a great first step in outsmarting them.

Find the root cause

Everybody struggles with insecurities, to some degree.Some people are more prone to insecurity than others, and some have learned to successfully overcome them, but insecurity is real and it's universal.

Separate illusion from reality

Face your insecurities in order to defeat them. Analyze your internal dialogue and the way you speak to yourself.This way, you will diminish the false power you have given to your fears.

Face your insecurities

When you react to a feeling of insecurity you are giving your power away, but when you respond, you stay in control. Learn to neutralize your reactions and engage in different responses.

Respond, don't react

If you're triggered by something, in others or in yourself, try learning a different association.If you can see your triggers as something that should make you curious instead of cautious, you have a very good chance of outsmarting any insecurity.

Control your triggers

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Our insecurities tend to stem from our deepest fears of not being good enough and not measuring up. If we don't learn to outsmart these feelings, they can sap our energy and weaken us.
Everyone has insecurities, but not everyone knows how to manage them effectively. If it feels like your insecurities are running your life, learn how to take back control. Here are five strategies for managing your insecurities:
1. Find the root cause. No one is born feeling insecure--insecurity is rooted in our experiences. It may start as far back as childhood. You may need to enlist the help of a coach or counselor, but finding the root cause of your insecurities is a great first step in outsmarting them.
2. Separate illusion from reality. You may think that you're the only one who feels insecurity, but in truth it effects virtually everyone to some degree. Some people are more prone to insecurity than others, and some have learned to successfully overcome them, but insecurity is real and it's universal.
3. Face them to defeat them. Listen to how you speak to yourself and analyze your internal dialogue. Confront your insecurities head-on. When you do, you become stronger and wiser, and you eliminate the false power that these fears, doubts and insecurities seem to carry.
4. Respond, don't react. When you react to a feeling of insecurity you are giving your power away, but when you respond, you stay in control. Learn to neutralize your reactions and engage in different responses. If you're always serious and self-deprecating, try lightness. Instead of beating yourself up, find what's working. Instead of hiding, be vulnerable and strong.
5. Get on top of triggers. Triggers are the things that set us off emotionally and activate our insecurities. I am a big believer that what triggers us transforms us. If you're triggered by something--in others or in yourself--it's time to learn a different association. If you can see your triggers as something that should make you curious instead of cautious, you have a very good chance of outsmarting any insecurity.
It truly is possible to overcome our self doubt. It's a matter of time, and will, and finding the right technique to out smart our insecurities.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
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Our insecurities tend to stem from our deepest fears of not being good enough and not measuring up. If we don't learn to outsmart these feelings, they can sap our energy and weaken us. Everyone has insecurities, but not everyone knows how to manage them effectively.

5 Powerful Ways to Outsmart Your Insecurities

Find the root cause

Separate illusion from reality

Face your insecurities

Respond, don't react

Control your triggers

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