| Most of us think that confidence is the product of | | | | process. We become confident after we have |
| the things we do. We think that after we learn a | | | | practiced for a long time. |
| new skill or complete a university degree, we will feel | | | | I would like to share an example from my own life. |
| more confident. I am proposing to you that we don't | | | | My business is public speaking and sharing information |
| need to accomplish things before we can feel | | | | with audiences who want to learn how to improve |
| confident. Confidence is not a by-product of | | | | the quality of their lives. When I started public |
| mastering something external. It is an internal | | | | speaking, I was very nervous. I didn't feel confident |
| concept, a belief in ourselves that we will eventually | | | | at all. Now I just love it. I apply the same process to |
| master what we undertake. It is possible for us to | | | | everything I undertake. I know I'm not going to feel |
| access our beautiful inner confidence right now, | | | | confident right at the start, but I will eventually |
| without achieving even one more goal. Of course, we | | | | master the skill and become really good at it. |
| will have dreams and goals as long as we live, but we | | | | Confidence is about connecting with your desires, |
| do not need to tie them to our sense of | | | | showing up to take action toward your goals, and |
| self-confidence. | | | | enjoying the journey. You will see your confidence |
| In one lifetime, there are only so many things we can | | | | emerge slowly but surely during the process of |
| engage in and so many activities we can master. Just | | | | learning. |
| think about it. Can anyone become a doctor, an | | | | Some of us have old tapes playing in our heads, with |
| engineer, a scuba diving instructor, an actor all at the | | | | the negative messages we received while growing |
| same time? No! We can only do a few things at any | | | | up. Those messages sneak in when we start |
| one time, and when we master them we can feel | | | | something new. Instead of encouraging us, those |
| confident about our ability to do them. But we | | | | messages beat us up every time we make a |
| cannot master everything-and we shouldn't try. | | | | mistake, every time we don't get it right. The truth is |
| Instead, we need to find what we are passionate | | | | that when we begin to do things right, our |
| about and express that in the world. | | | | subconscious learns the new right way. It's all about |
| Is anyone good at something new when they first | | | | practice. |
| start? No. It is unrealistic to expect to be the best at | | | | How do you support yourself when you want to |
| something right away. Learning a new skill and | | | | learn something new? Do you think encouraging |
| practicing it takes time. Only after a period of | | | | thoughts about what you are learning? If not, then |
| time-sometimes a long period-will we master the skill | | | | ask yourself why. Think about a time when you |
| and feel confident in our ability. | | | | learned something new, and build on the energy of |
| Take a look at something you are good at now, and | | | | that success to boost your confidence right now. |
| then look back to the time when you were first | | | | Remembering your beautiful, confident self is all it |
| learning it. You will remember when you were not | | | | takes. |
| confident about what you were doing. This is a | | | | |