Confidence: Building from Within
Confidence isn’t really something that we are born with; it’s not genetic. It is actually a trait that we cultivate over time. True confidence comes from understanding our own value and trusting in our own abilities. Activities and opportunities that we have over time can make or break our confidence from childhood through adulthood. When we lose confidence (or if we never felt like we had any in the first place), it canbe challenging to regain that perspective and self worth or value. To help build (or re-build) confidence, try including one or more of the following practices to your daily/weekly activities.
Start by practicing self-awareness. How do you do this? Get a journal/notebook and begin to think about who you are, who you want to be, how you want to show up for yourself and others. Reflect on your strengths, achievements, and the qualities that make you unique. Yes, unique. Despite what society has attempted to teach us, we were not created to be the same; we were created to be unique with special gifts and abilities. Reflect on what you believe those are for you. Just write; don’t critique or edit. In addition, learn about where you have potential to learn and grow; some call this a weakness but I like to acknowledge that we are all capable of change and improvement.
Celebrate small wins. Progress, no matter how small, is worth recognizing. Each time you accomplish something you feel good about, write it down. It can be as simple as not speaking negatively to yourself or as large as you worked out 5 days in a row despite not wanting to or not feeling like it. Everything little thing counts. Progress is movement, not matter how small. Make a note each time you achieve this and you will begin to see the pattern of progress and growth.
Engage in daily practices of gratitude. Take note of little things that bring you joy—people, places, activities, things for which you are truly grateful. This practice can include the smallest of activities or for grand gestures; it can include things you do for yourself, or what someone may do for you, or simply for a person or situation in your life. This activity of a gratitude practice will help shift focus to the positive events in life (instead of the negative). This simple practice of keeping this gratitude journal or even a gratitude jar—putting gratitude notes in a jar to review at the end of year—helps refocus mindset and energy. Not only does this help belief in self, in possible outcomes (versus negative thoughts or obstacles), it also tends to expand and grow the positive energy that surrounds you and expands into all aspects of life.
Try these for 30-60-90 days, or a year, and let me hear about your experiences along the way.
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