What should I do to cope with the high amount of self doubt and anxiety?

Hi Sm,

First off, let me say that I'm sorry you are going through a rough patch with these thoughts and feelings of doubt and worry. It might help a little to know that you are not alone with these feelings and due in part to the Pandemic, even more people are dealing with this. 

Let me start with a quote or saying sometimes attributed to Eleanor Rossevelt or to Master Oggway the fictional elderly tortoise who said... "The past is history..the future a mystery, the gift is now ..that's why they call it the present." 

I refer to this in part due to you relating that you are experiencing the worry or uncertainty of the future.  Sometimes a good antidote to this is to ground yourself in the present moment through connecting to your sensory experiences... mindful meditation, awareness of sights, sounds, smells... allowing yourself to take a pause and a deep breath and anchor yourself in the here and now. Maybe a walk in nature paying attention to the beauty of the surroundings.  Also, contrary to the often dominant social messages that encourage us to look away from uncomfortable feelings, it can be very helpful to lean into them rather than away from them. To be able to acknowledge the presence of sadness, anger, worry and make room for them rather than try to avoid them. As is often been said... "what we resist ...persists" 

It can also help to try to cultivate the practice of seeing our thoughts with distance. Being able to look "at " our thoughts, rather than "from" our thoughts... allow yourself to feel your feelings including uncomfortable ones such as worry about the future and choose the qualities of being and doing that matter to you and work to develop habits that support that values. 

A very important practice to cultivate also is self-kindness and self-compassion. During times of distress and worry try to be kind to yourself rather than judge yourself. Develop a gratitude practice and remind yourself that in addition to having this feeling of uncertainty you have also worked hard to graduate. 

We all have elements of self-doubt (imposter syndrome) and our own "not good enough story".  You might enjoy reading a book from a colleague of mine, Dr. Valerie Young, entitled, "The secret thoughts of successful women." (it's for men too) ... 

I will end with this...  consider looking at lifeless as a problem to be solved and more like a process to be lived...  its not the destination ... it is the journey. 

Be well and wishing you good health, safety, peace, ease, and belief in yourself as you move further along in your journey. 

Warm regards

Dave