Confidence is power. It’s the energy that holds you together no matter what. As the saying goes: You are confident, not because they like you, but even if they don’t.
What is confidence?
According to Oxford dictionary confidence is: “the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something; it also a feeling of self-assurance arising from an appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.
It is a unique driving force that truly helps you along the way. Some people confuse pride and confidence. In my opinion, is also easier to be proud than confident. Pride is a momentary glow of self believes, but confidence is a constant light of belief in yourself.
It is not very exciting doing anything without having confidence in yourself and believing in yourself. I know that for a fact.
I remember my early days in high school. I was extremely shy as a person and only spoke with a few friends, which I felt very conformable with. I almost avoided going to any parties, even if secretly I wanted to be there. The main reason for that was my extreme lack of confidence. I was so shy and self-focused, I had a stutter and I used to find it incredibly hard to make new contacts or even be in a company of people, that I don’t know.
It took one day to change all that. To this day I remember it as clear as day. The year before last year of high school I got a notebook and asked all my friends and some of the teachers to write something. Something meaning anything. It was a great way to communicate without having to say much as I was still struggling to talk properly because of my stutter.
Everybody was so kind and generous in writing things and drawing pictures, but a few lines written by my English teacher changed my life forever. I am forever grateful and it is another proof, that when the student is ready the teacher will appear.. She wrote” Such an intelligent and smart girl like you should have many friends. Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams and I am sure you will achieve great things. Believe in yourself! “
Those words have stuck in my heart forever. I remember walking that day after I read them down the corridor of the school and almost feeling like I am going to fly. I carry seeds of that feeling with me all the time.
Since that day I wasn’t the same person because someone believed in me, but most importantly I have started to believe in myself and have started to be more confident.
Ever since then looking back into it now I had a long a way to go, but nevertheless, that moment truly changed the way I live.
I want to give 3 very simple tips to help you feel confident, but most importantly believe in yourself.
1. Trust your gut feeling -I have mentioned this many many times before, that your intuition knows what to do.
2. Just do it –if you have been thinking about getting something done, the sooner you do it the sooner you will be able to focus on something else
3. Don’t compare yourself to others– I can relate how hard this can be, but it’s worth the effort to remember that everyone is walking their own journey. You walk your path with confidence.
Be well, be wild and enjoy the ride!
P.S I intend to post a blog a day for 365 days. This is day 2. I strongly believe that we are what we repeatedly do.
Thank you for your love and support,