Really struggling to stay confident at work lately. I'm 48 and I've had mostly good experiences at work throughout my life (a few long stints at nice places) , am successful by any standards, just can't shake the fear that I'm going to screw it all up eventually. Any time I make a small mistake I make it into a great referendum on my own abilities (even if no one else is fussed).
I do all the tricks to appear confident (smile, stay relaxed, network, take on new challenges, never apologise unless there's genuinely something to apologise for).
But I never just feel calm and confident. I thought I would by now. I am always so scared some one is going to screw me over. I really have to be careful f this defensive tone/attitude I feel coming on sometimes. I fear I'll sabotage myself with it.
I've had therapy but wonder if I need a career coach or something similar for the specific work-related stuff. It seems to be a trigger.
I am just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. Did anything work?