Overcoming Self-doubt and Inadequacy

All of us struggle with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. The “I’m not enough” syndrome robs many of us of contentment and accomplishment. Many years ago, the Air Force moved me and my family to Hawaii for a new position. This was my first non-flying assignment in my Air Force career. My new job required me to manage people and aircraft for the Pacific region in order to respond to global conflicts.

I was already a bit intimidated operating in a part of the world that was quite different. I was responsible for forces in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and other islands and locations all over the Pacific region. My previous flying assignments involved heavy aircraft and moving cargo and people. Now I was thrown into managing fighter/combat aircraft and personnel in a part of the world that was very, very unfamiliar to me.