How To Replace Self-Doubt

How to Replace Self-Doubt - An interview with Tony Robbins 

This was a gripping 1.5-hour podcast with Tony Robbins, and what he said really struck us here at Hy-Lyfe. Let us summarise the key points in minutes… 

“An extraordinary life is simply a life you truly want.”

Self-doubt creeps in at every level of success — even for Tony Robbins. But what separates those who stay stuck from those who move forward isn’t the absence of doubt — it’s how they replace it. Through years of coaching over 15 million people, Tony has identified powerful patterns that help us take control of our internal world, sharpen our focus, and design a life that isn’t just “successful,” but deeply fulfilling.

Don’t Make Comparisons That Don’t Make Sense
Tony tells a story about running a seminar for 125 people, but that night, he went to a Bruce Springsteen concert. There were thousands of people—explosive energy. Tony walked away feeling useless and depressed after. The comparison was instant and destructive. But here’s the truth: Tony wasn’t Bruce. He wasn’t supposed to be. Lesson: Don’t compare scales without comparing context. Focus on YOUR impact, not optics.

Anger vs. Gratitude: 
Anger can drive you, but it’s gratitude that keeps you going. Tony emphasises this: gratitude kills fear, kills anger, kills self-doubt. When you balance them, you stop chasing validation and start enjoying the process. 

Anger Can Push You — But Joy Pulls You
Anger is fuel. It can get you started. Many people begin their journey to success with a chip on their shoulder. What’s limitless, Tony says, is joy, enjoyment, and knowingness. It’s the belief that everything will be fine. The chip on your shoulder will get you started, but an attitude of gratitude will get you all the way. 

Slay the Dragon: Internal vs. External Battles
Much of self-doubt is an internal war disguised as an external problem. Tony calls this your “Battle: Internal vs. External.” Are you focused on what you can control — or are you obsessed with what’s out there? “Where focus goes, energy flows.” Discipline your disappointments. Stop blaming. Reframe the moment. Tony shares a Thanksgiving story where he received donated food as a child. He was excited, but his father was ashamed. Same moment, two different meanings. Meaning creates emotion. Change the meaning, and you change your state.

Train the Mind: Anticipate, Don’t Just React
Successful people don’t just respond to life — they anticipate it. Tony teaches that learning to anticipate patterns — whether in business, relationships, or your emotional triggers — is addictive and life-changing. E.G. Just like playing music: at first you learn to play, then you learn to write. The more you can predict and prepare, the less room doubt has to grow.

Don’t Numb — Move
Tony referenced a study comparing SSRI antidepressants vs dancing to music, and dancing was far more effective in lifting emotional states.
Why? Because movement changes your state immediately. Depression isn't always chemical — often, it's habitual. Instead of numbing with distractions or substances, change your body, change your breath, and then change your energy.

Use “Priming” to Set Your Day
Every morning, Tony does a routine called priming. It's a structured way to train your nervous system and mindset. Here's the simple version:

1. Breathwork: Use techniques like breath of fire to energise.
2. Gratitude: Focus on 3 specific things you’re grateful for.
3. “3 to Thrive”: Visualise 3 goals already accomplished.
4. Prayer of intention: Connect to something greater than yourself.

This should take around 10 minutes, and he added how good doing a 'cold plunge' was after. 

“Life Happens for Us, Not to Us”
Tony’s transformation came when he changed his language from “I should” to “I must.” That shift took him from poverty, to feeding over 1 billion Americans in need.
From feeding 30 million people… to over 60 million. He reminds us: it's his privilege to serve — but it's the student’s privilege to learn. Not everyone is your customer. You can’t coach people with closed minds, and he has taken people off his seminars before. 

"You get rewarded in public for what you practice in private.”

The Power of Practice: Public Reward Comes from Private Reps
Tony has worked with Steph Curry, who shared that he takes 500 shots a day, 7 days a week. He doesn’t just shoot — he targets a specific part of the rim. He’s done this for over 15 years. That equals just 1/10th of 1% for the shots he made, and he's still the greatest shooter EVER. 

Life Happens in Seasons
Tony teaches that we all move through seasons of life, each with its challenges and opportunities:

Spring (Ages 0–21): Time to grow easily. A season of learning and forming identity.
Summer (Ages 21–42): The toughest season. It’s about building, grinding, and improving.
Autumn (Ages 42–63): The power years. You reap the benefits of your earlier work.
Winter (Ages 63–84): A season of reflection. You either reap or weep — depending on how you lived.

When you know which season you’re in, self-doubt becomes less confusing. You realise: this phase is preparing you for the next. We are MASSIVE fans of Tony Robbins and we cannot wait to attend one of his seminars too! Remember to follow Hy-Lyfe for more…

Sources: Modern Wisdom.