How to Believe in Yourself When Nobody Else Does

May 23, 2025

By Will Moore

At 18, I was suicidal. Not metaphorically. I mean I literally didn’t want to live anymore.

I had just been rejected from every single fraternity in my freshman dorm. I sat alone in my dark college room while the rest of the guys celebrated in the hallway, laughing, shouting, full of belonging — and I remember thinking, I will never be good enough for this world.

That night, I locked my door, shut off the lights, and seriously considered whether I wanted to keep going. That version of me – the one hiding, ashamed, and utterly broken – couldn’t have imagined what would come next.

Fast forward to today, I’m the founder of a company that sold for over $321 million. I built a gamified habit-change system that's helping thousands of people escape the same failure loops I used to be trapped in. I’m married to the love of my life. I’m a dad. And most importantly, I believe in myself. Fiercely. Unshakably.

But I didn’t get here by accident. And I definitely didn’t get here by reading a few “rah-rah” quotes online. If you’re here because you’re searching for how to believe in yourself, especially when it feels like nobody else does, I want you to know this: Belief isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. Brick by brick. Habit by habit. Day by day.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through 10 specific ways to rebuild your belief using the same science-backed strategies that helped me go from suicidal to unstoppable. And if I can go from rock bottom to building an empire, I promise you that you can take your first step today.

Let’s begin.

What Does It Mean to Believe in Yourself? (And Why It Matters)

Believing in yourself isn’t about thinking you’re perfect or pretending you have all the answers. It’s about trusting that you have the ability to learn, adapt, and handle whatever life throws at you. Self-belief means recognizing your strengths and weaknesses honestly, and still choosing to move forward.

Why does this matter? Because self-belief is the foundation for growth in every area of life. When you believe in yourself:

You’re more likely to take on new challenges and pursue your goals.
You bounce back faster from setbacks and failures.
You experience less anxiety and more motivation.
You build stronger relationships because you’re not constantly seeking approval.

Psychologists call this “self-efficacy”—the belief that your actions can make a difference. The stronger your self-belief, the more resilient, persistent, and fulfilled you’ll become. Before you can change your habits or your results, it starts with changing the story you tell yourself about what’s possible.

Why We Stop Believing in Ourselves

For years, I carried this heavy, sinking belief: I can’t believe this is my life. I found myself constantly asking, Why don’t I believe in myself? Why does everything feel harder for me than it does for everyone else?

We stop believing in ourselves because:

We compare our behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel
We fail once (or ten times) and assume it means we’re doomed
We grew up absorbing limiting beliefs — from parents, teachers, peers — about what we could or couldn’t be
We repeat bad habits that quietly reinforce the identity of someone who “just doesn’t have it"

Those habits might seem small — sleeping in, avoiding discomfort, doom-scrolling instead of doing the thing — but over time, they compound. And what starts as procrastination becomes a personality. What begins as hesitation becomes your whole story.

But here’s the shift: those same neural pathways that trapped you in a Failure Loop can carry you into a Success Loop. You just need to interrupt the cycle. That happens with tiny wins, tracked progress, and consistent identity upgrades. That’s how I did it and how you can too.

Believing in yourself is the first step to success — but it’s not about blind optimism. It’s about building the habits that turn belief into behavior. That’s how to believe in yourself when nobody else does. Not by hoping but by actually working on replacing bad habits with good ones.

10 Ways to Believe in Yourself (That Actually Work)

If you're wondering how to believe in yourself when nobody else does, this is where you start.

1. Start With One Small Win

When you're buried in self-doubt, everything feels overwhelming. Dreams shrink. Goals that once inspired you now feel like a cruel joke. But the truth is, confidence doesn't come from massive leaps. It comes from stacking small, winnable moments that remind you what you’re capable of.

After that lowest night in college — locked in my dorm room, hiding from the celebration outside — I didn’t suddenly transform. Weeks later, in a Religions of the World class, my professor casually mentioned a book that had changed his life. I don’t know why, but something in his voice made me pay attention. I walked into the campus library after class and asked for How to Win Friends and Influence People.

That book became a gateway. One chapter led to another, one book led to a dozen more. That one action, seemingly irrelevant at the time, became the catalyst for everything that came after.

Small actions, repeated consistently, rewire your identity.

Try this:

Pick one small win today from one of the 5 Core Areas of your life:

Mindset: Read 10 pages of a book that challenges your thinking
Career & Finances: Declutter your inbox or plan tomorrow’s top task
Relationships: Text someone a genuine compliment
Physical Health: Do 3 pushups or go for a 10-minute walk
Emotional Health / Giving Back: Write down one thing you're grateful for

Small changes lead to big results. Momentum doesn't start with a miracle. It begins with movement.

2. Reframe the Inner Critic

There’s a moment I’ll never forget. We were in the early days of building our food delivery startup. We’d blown through way more cash than planned, the operations were barely holding together, and then I got the call: our GM had stolen from us and lied about being with her dying grandmother to cover it up.

I remember sitting at my desk, completely stunned. That familiar voice started creeping in: This is why you’ll never succeed. You’re too trusting. You’re not cut out for this.

In the past, that voice would've taken over. I would've spiraled. But something had changed.

Years earlier, when I was at rock bottom, I started doing the work — learning how to spot that inner critic, challenge it, and replace it. I realized the story I kept telling myself — you’re not good enough — wasn’t a fact. It was a habit. And habits can change.

So that day, I rewrote the message: You’re learning. You’re not perfect. But you’re still here, and you're still moving.

Try this:

Start a "Thought Reframe Log" — every time your inner critic pipes up, write down:

The thought ( I am never going to get it right.)
The trigger (Messed up a meeting or task)
A reframed version that’s grounded but empowering (I’m still learning. Every mistake is training)

Review it weekly. This simple habit rewires your self-belief and trains you to become your own biggest ally, not your worst enemy.

For a deeper dive into this mindset shift and a powerful mental model that supports it, check out the CBRP Mental Framework.

3. Anchor Confidence in Effort, Not End Results

In the early days of our startup, everything was going sideways — we were bleeding cash, our GM stole from us, and competitors were catching up fast. I used to tie my confidence to outcomes, so when things failed, I felt like a failure.

But during that chaos, I started shifting my focus. Instead of obsessing over what went wrong, I asked: Did I show up today? Did I take a step forward?

That simple shift helped me build a different kind of self-belief—one rooted in action, not achievement. If you're constantly wondering how to believe in yourself and be confident, maybe you’re measuring the wrong thing.

Try this:

Every day, track one action in a Core Area you want to grow:

• Mindset – Journal for 5 minutes • Career – Reach out to one lead • Health – Move your body for 10 minutes

Confidence isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build — one action at a time.

4. Make Self-Care a Non-Negotiable

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that beating yourself up isn’t a path to growth — it’s a guarantee you’ll stay stuck.

For a long time, I thought self-care was soft, a luxury, something for people who already had their lives together. But the truth is, practicing self-love is foundational to self-belief. It’s not about bubble baths and spa days — it’s about honoring your body, mind, and boundaries like someone who matters because you do.

For me, it started with daily walks, balanced meals, journaling, and sticking to a routine that made me feel stable. Small acts of self-respect, repeated consistently, helped me rebuild the identity of someone worth taking care of.

Try this: Choose one healthy daily routine that supports your energy and mindset. That could be:

Prepping one nourishing meal
Doing 15 minutes of movement
Practicing mindfulness
Blocking time to rest without guilt

You don’t earn self-care — you build from it.

Learn More: How to Change Your Life in 30 Days

5. Surround Yourself With Believers

When you're trying to rebuild your life, the last thing you need is people feeding your doubt. But that’s exactly what many of us deal with — passive-aggressive friends, skeptical family, colleagues who subtly dismiss our ideas.

Early on, I didn’t have a support system cheering me on. When I left my real estate job to build what would become Doorstep Delivery, most people thought I was out of my mind. It was a risky move — unproven model, huge learning curve. But there was one person I did believe in: my best friend.

I pitched him the idea. He hesitated. But I used what I’d been learning about people and persuasion, and eventually, he said yes. That decision changed both our lives. We weren’t experts. We weren’t confident all the time. But we believed in each other enough to start. And that shared belief carried us through moments when everything else seemed to be falling apart.

Here’s the truth: confidence is contagious. If you’re surrounded by people who constantly question you, it chips away at your foundation. But just one voice — someone who sees your potential and says, “Let’s go” , can make all the difference.

Try this:

Take five minutes today and audit your inner circle. Who energizes you? Who drains you? Then take one action: reach out to a growth-minded friend, a life coach or career coach, or someone whose belief could help steady your own.

But what if you don’t have a supportive network yet?

Start by seeking out communities (online or offline) where people are focused on growth, learning, or positive change. Join a local interest group, attend a workshop, or participate in online forums related to your passions. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you admire—a simple message like, “I really appreciate your perspective on [topic]. Would you be open to a quick chat or sharing any advice for someone starting out?” can open doors. If you want accountability and encouragement, consider forming a small mastermind group or finding an accountability partner. Set up a regular check-in (weekly or biweekly) to share wins, setbacks, and goals. Mutual support can turn belief into a habit.

6. Learn a New Skill and Track It

One of the quickest ways to break the belief that “I’m not good enough” is to prove, through action, that you’re capable of changing yourself.

When I started building my company, I wasn’t some seasoned tech founder. I wasn’t even a tech guy. I didn’t know how to write code or design an app. But I was learning. I leaned into my strengths — strategy, design thinking, leadership — and taught myself everything else I needed to know along the way.

That’s how I helped shape the design direction of our software, the customer experience, and eventually our entire brand. Confidence doesn’t come from already knowing. It comes from committing to know more than you did yesterday.

Try this: Pick one skill in a Core Area where you currently feel stuck.

Mindset: Learn a journaling or mindfulness technique
Career/Finances: Take a short online class or read a business book
Relationships: Practice active listening in your next conversation
Physical Health: Learn one proper movement pattern or recipe
Emotional Health: Try a new way to reset your nervous system (like breathwork)

Track your progress daily in a habit tracker app. Small effort, logged consistently, will build your evidence file. And that file? That’s where self-belief starts to rewrite itself.

7. Celebrate Micro-Wins (Even If They Feel Silly)

One of the biggest reasons we stop believing in ourselves is because we don’t give ourselves credit when we actually do something right.

We’re great at noticing failures — missing a deadline, falling off a routine, saying the wrong thing — but when we do something good? We barely blink. The brain shrugs and moves on, still scanning for what's wrong.

But here’s the thing: your self-belief is shaped by the evidence you pay attention to. If you only focus on where you fell short, your confidence shrinks. But if you learn to celebrate progress, no matter how small, that belief starts to build.

When I was rebuilding my life, I made this a personal rule: wins count, even if no one sees them. Whether it was finishing a book, making it to the gym, or having a difficult conversation I’d been putting off — I tracked it. And I acknowledged it. Because those little wins were proof that the tide was turning. That I wasn’t stuck. That I was becoming someone new.

Try this:

At the end of each day, write down one win - big or small - that made you proud.

Did you follow through on something?
Make a better choice than usual?
Get through a hard conversation?

Say it out loud if you want to make it stick. Even better? Share it with a friend. You can’t build confidence if you never stop to see what you’ve built.

8. Visualize Who You’re Becoming

There’s a version of you that already exists — not in some fantasy, but as a trajectory. It’s the version that emerges when your habits line up with your personal values. The problem is, most people never take time to actually picture who that person is.

One good way is to build your personal mantra. This is what I say during my morning stretch. “I am strong, focused, and building momentum every day. I’ve already overcome so much. I am becoming the person I’m meant to be.”

Try this:

Each morning this week, close your eyes and visualize the future version of you, not just what they have, but how they show up.

How do they carry themselves when they walk into a room?
How do they handle pressure, speak to others, care for their body?
What are 3 habits they follow that you’re not following yet?

Then choose one of those habits and take a single step toward it.

Need help getting clear on that future version of yourself? Download the Back to the Future Planning Guide — it’s a practical tool to help you align today’s actions with tomorrow’s vision.

9: Overcome Setbacks by Turning Failure Into a Blueprint

Failure used to feel like proof that I was falling behind — or worse, that I didn’t belong in the game at all. Every mistake triggered that critical inner voice: You always mess things up. You’re not built for this.

But over time, I learned how to turn failure into my greatest teacher. The shift came when I stopped seeing it as a verdict and started seeing it as feedback.

This is how you build resilience: not by avoiding failure, but by facing it, reflecting on it, and using it to grow. It starts with radical acceptance — naming the setback, owning your part, and choosing to move forward without letting it define your identity.

Try this:

After your next setback, ask yourself:

What went wrong? (reflection)
What role did I play? (strengths and weaknesses)
What did I learn?
What risk did I take that was worth it?
How can I reframe this failure into fuel?

You might not be able to control the outcome, but you can always control the story you tell yourself afterward.

10: Ask for Help (That’s What Strong People Do)

Let’s be honest — asking for help doesn’t always feel empowering. If you’re used to doing everything on your own, it can feel like failure. I know, because I tried to muscle through most of my early years that way… and nearly broke in the process.

But here’s what I’ve learned: growth isn’t meant to be done alone.

Every major transformation in my life began the moment I let someone in — a mentor, a coach, or a teammate who challenged me to stop playing small and start acting like the person I was becoming. Sometimes, all it takes is someone outside your own head to help you see what’s possible.

That’s what I do now.

As a life coach, I work with young adults and early-stage professionals who are stuck, not because they lack potential, but because they’re buried under outdated habits, unclear goals, and too much noise.

Through the Moore Momentum System, I’ll help you:

Identify the habits and patterns keeping you stuck
Clarify your goals across all 5 Core Areas of Life: Mindset, Career and Finances, Relationships, Physical and Mental Health
Build simple, gamified routines that turn belief into behavior.

If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself and ready to become who you know you’re meant to be, I’m here to help you get there.

👉 [Start Here – Take the free Core Values Quiz] 👉 [Join the Momentum Coaching Program]

Let’s level up your life, one habit at a time.

Conclusion – How to Believe in Yourself

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that self-belief isn’t something you wait around to feel — it’s something you build. I didn’t go from being that kid hiding in a dorm room to leading a multimillion-dollar company because I suddenly “found confidence.” I built it slowly, by upgrading the habits that were holding me back, and focusing on the five areas that shape everything: Mindset. Career & Finances. Relationships. Physical Health. Emotional Health & Giving Back. And the best part? This isn’t just something that worked for me — it’s something anyone can do.