Every person in this world has something they are insecure about. Even the most confident person secretly has something they feel unsure about. Most of the time, those who hold these secret anxieties hide them well enough that others around them do not notice.

Maybe you’ve felt inferior because you are insecure about something. The challenge lies not in admitting to your insecurities, but in conquering them. Here are three common insecurities faced by numerous people, and some tips on how you can change the ones that apply to you.

Everyone has insecurities. The biggest difference is between those who choose to allow those insecurities to rule them, and those who turn those insecurities into stepping stones to become better, despite them.

Changing the way you talk to yourself will drastically change the way you feel about yourself. Insecurities like the ones mentioned above will eventually fade and give way to total self-confidence. But you have to alter your perception. Feeding yourself positive affirmations will help you get a good head start on focusing on what you have the ability to do, rather than on what you think you cannot accomplish.

How many times have you felt less than best? Do you find it difficult to accept gifts or compliments? All too often, these feelings stem from poor self-esteem. The best way to overcome feeling like you aren’t good enough is to pump up your self-esteem. You can use positive daily affirmations to do this over an extended period of time.

Insecurity #2: I’m not smart enough.

Innumerable people discount themselves all because they do not have a formal education. Feelings of insecurity often creep in when given an opportunity for advancement. When this happens and you start to feel like you don’t deserve the recognition or development, remind yourself of all your life experiences. These serve to enrich your knowledge and deepen your skills.

Insecurity #3: I don’t think I can do it.

If you think you can’t, chances are you won’t. Stop feeding yourself negative inner thoughts like this one. Rather than telling yourself you don’t know if you can, why not tell yourself you can. At the very least, give yourself a chance to try. Even if you fail, at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you gave it a shot before giving up.