Confidence feels challenging to achieve, especially when we’re insecure. However, the steps to becoming confident are simple on the surface. To become confident, one must put themself out in small ways in a safe environment. This sounds easy, but it isn’t when our minds and emotions get involved.
Instead, we create blocks, known as excuses, to justify why the little step we’ve chosen can’t be done. Procrastination will become our friend, and we’ll bail on our plans. We’ll seek reasons to support backing out, no matter how small, insignificant, or ridiculous they might be. The key is to find more substantial reasons to proceed.
We must seek out at least one better reason to proceed for every reason we create to bail. Then we must remind ourselves of this over and over again. Our minds and emotions constantly run behind the scenes, so we must diligently monitor them. For more information on tracking thoughts check out The power of thoughts.
The only way to build confidence is to find a safe place, identify small, easy wins, and put ourselves out there not just once but repeatedly. Once we no longer need to make excuses for the small ways we put ourselves out, up the challenge and repeat.
Action steps:
- Identify friends, groups, or organizations in your area of interest.
- Identify small, easy ways to show up and challenge yourself.
- Monitor your thoughts, and for every excuse, identify the reasons to bail and two more substantial ones to proceed.
- Remind yourself of the reasons to proceed every time the urge to bail comes up.
- Show up and put complete the small, easy win identified.
- Repeat.