I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time. -Anna Freud
One of the most interesting things I noticed about the Cindy Gallop article I posted last Friday was the first question the interviewer posed:
Do you recall the first time, probably in retrospect, that you became aware of how unique and boldly creative you are as a person – were you a kid, a teen or an adult?
And Cindy’s response:
Well, that’s an extremely flattering question! To be honest, it’s really only been in the last 10 years or so that I’ve become aware that that is how other people perceive me. Like many other women, for many years my own estimation of and confidence in myself lagged far behind the way that other people saw me.
What struck me about this answer was that someone as creative and interesting and unique as Cindy Gallop could ever feel anything less than that. But we’ve all been there – we’ve all doubted our capabilities and our strengths. Self-doubt is human nature. But I’ve noticed that self-doubt is much more prevalent in my 20-something clients. Why is it that we beat ourselves up so much? Other people think we’re amazing, why shouldn’t we?
Here are my 5 tips for recognizing your awesomeness for what it is:
- Create An Affirmation – I’m a big believer in affirmations. We’ve all experienced negative self-talk and how quickly it can bore itself into our psyche. The same is true for positive affirmations or mantras. If you repeat something enough, you’ll soon believe it.
- Cut Yourself Some Slack – If you’re really honest with yourself, you’ll often find you’re being entirely too hard on yourself. We often hold ourselves up to impossible standards which is just stressful. Give yourself a break.
- Congratulate Yourself – The same way that we hold ourselves to impossible standards, we often don’t give ourselves credit when we accomplish something great. We just keep moving along to the next goal. Don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back – it’ll help instill a sense of appreciation for who you are and what you’ve accomplished.
- Focus on the Positive – It’s so easy to focus on the negative in life. Instead of thinking about why you suck, think about why you’re absolutely phenomenal.
- Stay in the Present- We usually beat ourselves up about what we’re lacking in life. It’s much easier to complain about what you haven’t achieved than to concentrate on what you already have. Remember to stay in the present and enjoy where you are at right now.
We all have our own incredible essence to share with the world but we’re stifling it by doubting our abilities. Don’t sell yourself short. Be confident in who you are right now and share your bold uniqueness with the world.
Nailah
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