Let’s do a simple exercise to help you be more confident. I will tell you first that this has always been one of my biggest struggles. The answer to the problem has mostly been cut and dry, a simple statement. “you need to be more confident.” As if for some people, confidence is so easy and so attainable and it never wanes.
Do you have times in your life where you succeeded at something big? That’s great! Many of my readers have done big things in life and gotten thru challenges that require great strength. However, what if you have trouble gaining confidence from those successes? How about starting with a time where you succeeded at something small?
Start with your story
When I was in elementary school, art class seemed to consist mainly of drawing still life pictures. This was not my talent. I’m pretty sure a copy of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers hung in the room and the teacher set a vase of flowers on the table for us to draw. Everyone around me seemed to be able to do a beautiful drawing. I couldn’t wait for class to be over. Maybe this was something you could do easily. Being artistic might be one of the ways you define yourself and knowing your strengths helps you be more confident! In addition to this, it might be part of what makes you successful in your life and work.
Take a memory of a time where you were successful in something small. Fast forward my story to 8th grade art class. We were asked to create a sculpture. I used wire and wrapped the heck out of that stuff till I came up with a pretty good sculpture. It was a lady in a rocking chair knitting. When I got the project back, it had a grade of 100. Not only did the sculpture stay in my house for a long time, but I was pretty happy with it. I never thought about it, but it made me feel good because it defined me as creative.
Knowing what your strengths are will help you be more confident in yourself!
Try to draw on some memories of the good feelings you had when you did something well. What talents and skills did you develop to allow you to do it well? Think of a time you succeeded at something small and what that meant in terms of your abilities and who you are. One strength can have far reaching impact on your life.
These strengths can lead us to a new definition of who we are. If you are in your 20’s and 30’s it’s great to identify these now and go forward with that confidence! If you are in your 40’s and 50’s, look at what you have accomplished. What are the strengths that it took to get you there? Also, if you have dreams that you have not begun to pursue, this could be the time. Think of why those dreams are there.
What strengths do you have that can help your own dreams come to life?
What have you been equipped with that can help you start making those dreams a reality? Remember to go back and picture the small things. like catching a ball and pulling a team together, having success in a group project or helping a friend learn a skill. These are the memories that can help you answer questions like who am I, and how do I start gaining confidence? Once these accomplishments come to mind, line them up with their corresponding strength. Each strength you identify will be a building block to discovering your dreams.
There is a concept called impostor syndrome. This is a popular subject and worth mentioning here. You may have achieved great things and have an amazing career, however you feel like who am I? do I deserve this? How did I get here? Realize that if this sounds like you, there is a reason you are reading this right now. Maybe you have a harder time recognizing your own value and achievements. If you are doing great things, identify those small talents and skills that got you there. Take credit in your mind for those accomplishments and go help others to reach their goals as well. If this is true of you, I hope that you found some value in reading this post. Our accomplishments should be a source of confidence and security.
Take a few minutes to make a note of the impact from anything you may have learned here. What memories do you have that have helped you be more confident in yourself? What are your strengths? First, write any thoughts down, make a note on your phone. Second, build on these strengths! You don’t have to take out a journal unless you find that works for you. But, do write your thoughts down and any goals that have come to mind. Finally, as new ideas come to you add to your notes! Subscribe to my blog to be updated with new posts on confidence and healthy lifestyle! Send me a note if you would like to see more articles like this.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth