Self-doubt is tied to negativity but is far more pernicious. Both mentors and mentees can invalidate their contributions to the mentoring relationship by assuming they aren’t worthy. Mentors might struggle with an imposter complex that tells them they have no business guiding another person’s prospects.
Similarly, mentees may not feel they’re worthy of the attention the mentor affords them. Mentees might assume they aren’t talented enough or are insufficiently dedicated to the relationship. Both parties would do well to remember that self-doubt is just an opinion. It isn’t true, and it isn’t useful. When these thought patterns present themselves, thank them for their input and then ignore them.