When it comes to self-confidence, many people think that it’s a personality trait, an indicator they’re doing something right, or that it will come to them if they can only figure out the magical formula to create it.
It’s none of that. And it doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert or extrovert. You can have confidence (or lack it) at any age and any stage of life.
You might be trying to do the most important thing in your life or be sitting at rock bottom. And in both cases, you can use a lack of confidence as an excuse to avoid moving forward.
However, self-confidence isn’t something you’re born with or given. It comes after you take action, not before.
How do you create more confidence?
First, realize that it’s a side-effect, not a pre-existing condition.
You aren’t just running low on believing in yourself. No amount of wishing for it, meditating, or waiting for confidence to descend into your life will help.
Next, follow these steps.
- Focus and get clear about what you want to accomplish.
- Take a small step toward your goals. It’s a lot less scary if you stick to small steps instead of putting mounds of pressure on yourself with a giant leap.
- Realize that as long as you survive or succeed when you attempt the step, you made progress
- Repeat
Your self-confidence will increase each time you work through that simple process.
And then, the next time that you face a situation where you feel insecure, you’ll have the extra help of knowing you made it through once before.
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
Wondering what role self-confidence plays in living a passion-filled life? Stay tuned for more on that soon!