Hello everyone and welcome back to the
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English dialogue podcast. I'm Mike and
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as always I'm here with Emma. How are
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you today Emma? Hi Mike. I'm doing well
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thanks. Today we're delving into a topic
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that resonates with many of us
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overcoming self-doubt. It's something
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that can hold us back from reaching our
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full potential, whether in personal
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goals or professional endeavors.
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Absolutely. Self-doubt can be a
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significant barrier to success and
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happiness. But understanding it and
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learning how to overcome it can make a
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huge difference in our lives. So, let's
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start by defining what self-doubt really
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Sure, self-doubt is that nagging feeling
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of uncertainty about our abilities,
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decisions, or worth. It often manifests
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as negative self-t talk, fear of
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failure, and hesitation to take action.
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While a little self-doubt can be
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motivating, excessive self-doubt can
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paralyze us, preventing us from pursuing
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opportunities and achieving our goals.
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Right? It's that inner voice that
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questions whether you're good enough or
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capable enough to do something. This
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voice can stem from past experiences,
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societal pressures, or even the way we
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were raised. But the good news is there
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are effective strategies to overcome
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Exactly. One powerful method is building
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self-awareness. By recognizing when
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self-doubt arises, we can address it
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more effectively. Keeping a journal to
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track your thoughts and feelings can
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help identify patterns and triggers that
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lead to self-doubt.
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That's a great point. Self-awareness is
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the first step toward change. Once
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you're aware of your self-doubt, you can
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start challenging those negative
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thoughts. For instance, if you catch
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yourself thinking, "I can't do this,"
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you can counter it with, "I can try my
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best and learn from the experience."
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Yes, challenging negative thoughts is
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crucial. Another strategy is setting
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realistic goals. When goals are too
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lofty or vague, it's easy to feel
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overwhelmed and doubt your abilities.
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Breaking down larger goals into smaller,
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manageable tasks can build confidence as
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you achieve each step. Absolutely.
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Achieving small milestones creates a
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sense of accomplishment which reinforces
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your belief in your abilities.
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It's like building a foundation. Each
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small success adds to your overall
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confidence, making larger challenges
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attainable. Exactly. Positive
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relationships can provide encouragement,
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constructive feedback, and different
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perspectives that help counteract
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self-doubt. Sharing your struggles with
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trusted friends or mentors can lighten
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the emotional load and offer valuable
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insights. That's a wonderful point.
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Support systems play a vital role in
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self-doubt. Additionally, practicing
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self-compassion is essential. Being kind
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to yourself, especially when you make
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mistakes, can reduce the harsh
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self-criticism that fuels self-doubt.
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Yes, self-compassion involves treating
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yourself with the same kindness and
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understanding you'd offer a friend.
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Instead of dwelling on failures,
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acknowledge them as part of the learning
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process. This mindset shift can help you
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recover more quickly and maintain a
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Absolutely. Another effective technique
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visualization. Visualizing success can
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help rewire your brain to believe in
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capabilities. Spend a few minutes each
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day imagining yourself achieving your
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goals and overcoming challenges. This
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mental rehearsal can boost your
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confidence and reduce anxiety.
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That's a great technique. Visualization
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not only enhances confidence, but also
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prepares you mentally for real life
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scenarios. It can make your goals feel
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more tangible and achievable, reducing
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the intimidation factor that often
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accompanies big dreams.
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Yes. And combining visualization with
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actionable steps creates a powerful
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synergy. For example, if you visualize
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yourself giving a successful
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presentation, you can then outline the
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steps to prepare effectively researching
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your topic, practicing your delivery,
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feedback. Exactly. Taking proactive
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steps reinforces your belief in your
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abilities and diminishes
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self-doubt. Another important aspect is
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embracing failure as a learning
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opportunity. Instead of viewing failure
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as a reflection of your worth, see it as
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a chance to grow and improve. That's a
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healthy perspective. When you shift your
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mindset to see failures as lessons, it
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reduces the fear of making mistakes.
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This openness to learning fosters
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resilience and encourages you to take
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risks without being paralyzed by
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Yes, resilience is key. Building
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resilience through challenging
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experiences strengthens your ability to
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cope with self-doubt. Each time you face
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a challenge and persevere, you reinforce
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your confidence and diminish the power
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of self-doubt over time. Absolutely.
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Let's also discuss the role of
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mindfulness and meditation in overcoming
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self-doubt. These practices help you
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stay present and reduce the tendency to
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ruminate on negative thoughts. By
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cultivating a calm and focused mind, you
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can better manage self-doubt and
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maintain a positive outlook. Yes,
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mindfulness encourages you to observe
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your thoughts without judgment, which
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can prevent you from getting caught up
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in self-critical thinking. Regular
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meditation can enhance your emotional
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regulation, making it easier to respond
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to self-doubt with clarity and calmness
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rather than fear and anxiety.
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That's a great addition. Mindfulness and
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meditation not only help in managing
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self-doubt, but also improve overall
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mental well-being. They create a mental
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space where you can address self-doubt
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constructively instead of letting it
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control your actions.
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Exactly. And another practical tip is to
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celebrate your successes, no matter how
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small. Recognizing and rewarding your
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achievements reinforces positive
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behavior and boosts your confidence,
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making it harder for self-doubt to take
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hold. Yes, celebrating successes creates
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a positive feedback loop. It reminds you
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of your capabilities and motivates you
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to continue striving toward your goals.
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It's important to acknowledge your
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progress and give yourself credit for
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the hard work you're putting in.
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Absolutely. Whether it's a personal
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achievement or a professional milestone,
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taking the time to celebrate can enhance
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your sense of accomplishment and reduce
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inadequacy. It shifts your focus from
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what you lack to what you've achieved,
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fostering a more positive and confident
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That's a wonderful perspective. So to
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summarize, overcoming self-doubt
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involves building self-awareness,
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challenging negative thoughts, setting
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realistic goals, surrounding yourself
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with supportive people, practicing
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self-compassion, visualization,
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embracing failure, cultivating
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resilience, mindfulness, and celebrating
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Yes. And it's important to remember that
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overcoming self-doubt is a continuous
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journey. It requires patience,
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persistence, and a willingness to grow.
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Everyone experiences self-doubt at
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different points, but with the right
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strategies, it can be managed and even
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transformed into a source of motivation.
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Well said, Emma. To our listeners,
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remember that self-doubt is a natural
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part of the human experience, but it
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doesn't have to define you. Use these
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strategies to build your confidence.
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Embrace your strengths and pursue your
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goals with determination.
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Exactly. Don't be too hard on yourself
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and celebrate every step you take toward
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overcoming self-doubt. You're capable of
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more than you think, and every effort
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you make brings you closer to your true
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potential. We'd love to hear your
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stories and tips on overcoming
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self-doubt. How have you managed to push
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past those negative thoughts?
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Share your experiences with us on our
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social media or email. Your insights can
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inspire others on their journey. Yes,
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share your successes and
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challenges. Together, we can create a
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supportive community that encourages
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everyone to believe in themselves and
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Thanks for joining us today on the
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English Dialogue Podcast. Until next
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time, stay confident and keep moving
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Take care everyone and remember you've
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