Powerful Messages About Overcoming Self-Doubt
We found these beautiful pieces of advice—and helpful journal writing prompts that help usher in a few doable changes—all in the must-read book Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/2015/10/201510-orig-HarperLee-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
From Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel, published August 11, 2015 by Tarcher Perigee, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright 2015, Meera Lee Patel.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/o2/201510/201510-orig-HarperLee-exercise-re-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
Exercise
List four times you continued to try even though the odds were against you.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/2015/10/201510-orig-Emerson-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
From Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel, published August 11, 2015 by Tarcher Perigee, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright 2015, Meera Lee Patel.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/o2/201510/201510-orig-Emerson-exercise-re-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
Exercise
List three traits you'd like others to see in you.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/2015/10/201510-orig-DalaiLama-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
From Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel, published August 11, 2015 by Tarcher Perigee, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright 2015, Meera Lee Patel.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/o2/201510/201510-orig-DalaiLama-exercise-re-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
Exercise
Think of something you lost recently. What are two positive insights you gained from the experience?
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/2015/10/201510-orig-CharlesDickens-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
From Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel, published August 11, 2015 by Tarcher Perigee, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright 2015, Meera Lee Patel.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/o2/201510/201510-orig-CharlesDickens-exercise-re-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
Exercise
Write down one kind thing you did for someone else in the past 24 hours.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/2015/10/201510-orig-DFW-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
From Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel, published August 11, 2015 by Tarcher Perigee, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright 2015, Meera Lee Patel.
![](/g/image-resizer?width=670&link=https://static.oprah.com/images/o2/201510/201510-orig-DFW-exercise-re-949x1356.jpg)
Illustration: Meera Lee Patel
Exercise
Circle the things you worship most. Then underline the things you'd rather worship.
Published 10/06/2015