I used to have two basic thoughts about self-confidence:
1. It comes from being good at things.
2. Some people were born with a lot, and some people weren’t.
These thoughts hint at an explanation of self-confidence, but what if the story is richer and more stirring than that?
What if self-confidence comes from the way we think about ourselves or what we tell ourselves when we try something and it fails?
What if self-confidence comes from making commitments and keeping them — not just to others, but to ourselves?
What if we could trust ourselves to handle anything that came up in our lives?
Our opinion of ourselves either creates self-confidence or erodes it.
It’s as simple as that. We always have a choice.
Today I have new ideas about self-confidence:
1. I never have to wait for someone else’s approval to feel self-confidence. It’s always available.
2. I can feel any negative emotion and be fine.
3. I can feel self-confidence even when I’m doing something scary.
4. I create self-confidence with my thoughts.
I love coaching people about self-confidence.
It’s fun to see their minds grappling with new ideas and watching their self-judgment loosen its grip.
It sets in motion a process of powerful change, and I feel lucky to witness a glimpse of that.
