Need more confidence? It’s just like a muscle! The more you build it, the stronger it becomes. Any successful outcome in your business or life, relies on your confidence and self-belief to take action and your willingness to put yourself on the line. Without action, there is no growth or learning. Yet with each new challenge you master, you are stronger and better prepared for the next, with a greater understanding of what works. The problem is, no matter how confident you are, or how willing to take a risk, there are always times when you come face-to-face with the unexpected and suddenly feel vulnerable. How you respond in those times of challenge, will either reinforce or undermine the way you feel about yourself and ultimately, the success of the outcome. Actively building your confidence muscle not only increases resilience, but the self-belief needed to make choices that support your well-being and success! Here’s why:
Confidence influences
- the choices you make in business
- how high you aim in your career
- any decisions related to your health
- how you manage your relationships
- your expectations around income
- the money you earn
- what you are willing to tolerate or challenge
- how you feel about yourself
The power of inner confidence
External ‘trappings’ or the attributes identified with possessions, status, celebrity and age are often linked with confidence, yet they all have transitory value unless you have the inner resources to support you in times of challenge. My own professional and personal experiences and all that I have learnt from working in Image, have demonstrated clearly that real confidence comes from within. Whilst the right clothes and image definitely boost confidence and improve your chances of success, these things are only the outer layer. Economic influences beyond our control, or unexpected life events that present new challenges, abundantly demonstrate that without a strong foundation, that kind of confidence is an illusion. If you rely on it to feel good about yourself, or to support you in times of challenge, you become incredibly vulnerable.
Real confidence and self-worth comes from within … knowing who you are, feeling good about yourself and having the certainty, self-belief and inner resources to handle whatever comes your way. It means being clear about your values and having the confidence to make choices that support you, regardless of external pressures, time constraints or life limitations. At the heart of this kind of confidence is personal power!
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop and look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Like most people, you may find you have plenty of confidence in some areas of your life, but feel unsure or held back in others. Perhaps there are times when you’ve been thrown off course by unexpected events, business challenges or the many demands of modern life. This is the time when self-doubt kicks in, undermining you further. Building the muscle of confidence and self-belief helps you realise these are all opportunities to learn and grow. They force you to take action, find a new way forward and in the process become stronger, increasing your confidence, resilience and personal power. Like any exercise, the more you work at building the muscle, the stronger and more confident you become.
Fear and self-doubt are part of the human condition, but you can refuse to be defined by them. With the right tools, strategies and mindset, your confidence will increase and anything becomes possible. Whatever you want to achieve, lack of confidence must never be the reason that holds you back. Use it to inspire your learning, build the muscle of confidence and be who you were always meant to be!
Performance Tip
Identify those things that undermine your confidence and take decisive action. Develop whatever tools, strategies or support you need to build your confidence muscle, so you feel empowered, regardless of the professional or personal challenges you face.
If this post has made you stop and view your business, career or any part of your life in a new light, your feedback is very welcome.
Warmest wishes,
Email: info@inner-power.co.uk