To doubt or not to doubt

I've read 1,000s of postings and seem to hear mixed reviews on how to approach tournament play. Most advice I've read says you won't win them all. Or I read a thread recently where the guy said he prob wouldn't win this one but eventually would hit again. Not saying thats wrong, but here is my question, does doubting help? I go into all tournaments saying to myself I'm one of the best if not the best and will probably win this tournament. I treat tournaments as if they are mine to lose. (This is what I say to myself is it true probably not, does it help my play I think so?)

Of course I don't win them all...but the doubting seems like a bad course of action. Some might call it being realistic. This is my opinion but I think this is the worse advice given/it's given quite a bit. I mean I get it you won't win them all and you don't want to give some kid starting out false hope. I really would like opinions on this? Maybe doubting is a good way to approach poker. (as a profitable player I don't think so, but thousands and thousands are more profitable than me)

This is more about being prepared to handle the, "slings & arrows of outrageous fortune", that occour within the tourney.
I would suspect that your success comes from entering a tourney with a solid game plan, based on study & analysis of your game, following that plan, then analyzing the results & adjusting as you deem necessary. Attitude & knowledge, "nowledge," if your from Nebraska, are both important. Most of the comments you are refererncing are likely directed at those who seem to believe Phil Helmuth's, "If it wasn't for bad luck I'd win every hand", comment applies to them. Look at the number of posts in the bad beats thread.

It's a lot better to have your way of thinking than the opposite way that a lot of players have because of all the bad beats they've been experiencing. A lot of those players are still able to play an A game or close to it, but the feeling you get after busting out of still another tourney after already having busted out of 10, 15, 20, 30, or even 40 in a row without a cash is a worse feeling when you have that negative approach. With your approach, you could be a winning player, have a 40-in-a-row cashless streak, and still be ready to play again the next day and that's what it takes to be a tourney regular.

Most good players play a tournament in stages.

First is to make the money. Next is to make the final table. (sometimes they're both the same) and next is the money jump. After that they'll concentrate on getting heads up, and finally the win.

The "slings & arrows" are a real fear, and we must be prepared for that. So some folks don't consider the win until it's in the quiver.

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I think you have to believe you can win every time you play.Luck will play a big part but you can reduce the amount of coin flips by making the right decisions at the right time.

You definitely need to believe that you are best because if you dont then you will get bullied. Luck is also a big part like the one above said because even if you are the best poker player in the tournament it will not guaranteed you a win because you need luck. So basically dont doubt yourself!

Sounds like you need to be realistic with yourself because you WILL NOT win every tournament you play. At the same time, DON'T PLAY tournaments you have no chance at winning.

Damn I'm good.