Confidence
To start to achieve something approaching our potential, to get closer to the mark of where we should be in life, we need to possess or develop confidence. That confidence needs to be based on reality. That reality is what we believe about ourselves. The reality of what we are and what we possess in ourselves has to come from deep within us. It is not based upon anyone else’s view or impression of us.
So often what we think of ourselves, our belief system about our abilities and capabilities, is based upon what we have received from those around us, whether they are family, friends or colleagues. These received views and beliefs about ourselves may have good, bad or mixed motives. People sometimes speak negatives into our lives out of their own inadequacy and lack of confidence.
There are some people who appear to possess a natural confidence. But this is very often only an appearance which deep down within them is being questioned. A bluff exterior and a willingness to tackle jobs beyond their capabilities is a misplaced confidence. We probably can all think of someone we have known who thinks of themselves as a “know it all”. Any delving into their real knowledge shows them to have only a surface knowledge of the subject they are so eager to pronounce on.
True and lasting confidence needs to come from within and to be developed. It must be based upon the truth about ourselves and not a lie. But that truth must be what WE KNOW to be true. Often it will be based, not upon what we have so far achieved, but what our higher self knows of our capabilities. It is only when we stop believing the lies that we have learned from other people and from our own apparent failures that we will start to develop the qualities of confidence and assurance that will take us forward on our chosen path in life.
The development of confidence is part of the process of maturity. A child may lack confidence until he or she has tried something out and proved that it is possible. It then becomes something about which they are confident. Having done it once, they believe they can do it again. As we grow older we become less willing to believe “I CAN do it”. Instead of achieving and building on our achievements, we so often place obstacles in our path. We talk ourselves out of the possibility of achievement and settle for mediocrity.
Sometimes it will be necessary to mix confidence with faith. We not only need confidence about the things we have already done. We need to learn to reach forward and stretch ourselves to do the things that were previously beyond our grasp or willingness to try. This is where faith comes in – faith that you can do it and can draw upon an inner strength that will always rise to meet the challenge if only you will believe in yourself.
These achievements build our self-esteem. They help us become the person we were meant to be. We learn to value ourselves far more greatly than we previously thought possible. Our speech becomes positive, especially our self talk. We then become more prone to talking ourselves INTO things than out of them.
Why not decide today that you will start to build your wall of confidence one brick at a time? This will be the great step you can take towards greater self-esteem and will help you to set goals that will really change your life in a positive way.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Allan_King
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