Do you remember when you were little and you thought you could do anything? When you were asked you what you wanted to be when you grow up, anything was possible. Astronaut, doctor, train driver, ballerina – the world was your oyster! You didn’t think about your ability levels, what qualifications you might need, how long it would take to train, what kind of money you could make or the career prospects you would have.
You just had a dream and believed it could happen.
Then we grow up. We realise our abilities and limitations. We are constrained by other people’s opinions. We understand that things take time and money. Our dreams become a little less heart-felt and a lot more practical.
When we are little our self-belief is unlimited; as we grow that belief is squashed by so many external factors.
Now, it’s ok that our dreams change as we grow, what’s not ok is when life continues to dampen that inner confidence and it starts to spill into other areas of our lives.
We begin to doubt our abilities, other people point out our faults and flaws, we try to fit ourselves into boxes in order to ‘fit in’ and that self-confidence shrinks further.
Think of your self-confidence like a light. When you were younger and you believed anything was possible, then that light shines brightly. Everyone can see it. Then life happens and things begin to shrink our light. Now, some people manage to keep hold of theirs, but other people lose it completely. It grows so small that it becomes impossible to see and we forget it’s there.
We lose confidence in our abilities, we try to play safe, we don’t do things that push us out of our comfort zone and we give up on our dreams.
But you are meant to shine brightly with that light.
I want to remind you that your light is there. No matter how small it’s become, no matter whether you remember it’s there or not, it’s there right now waiting to be found. As soon as you remember that inner confidence your light becomes brighter. The more you notice, the brighter it becomes. The more you notice it, the more confidence you feel. Just by reading these words, things are already changing and you will feel your confidence begin to grow and that light become brighter.
Think of your self-confidence like a muscle; the more you work it, the stronger it gets.
Now, I’m not suggesting you quit your job to become a ballerina or an astronaut, but it’s not too late to do the things that make you smile. What would you do if you felt more confident, what would you try that you’ve been to scared to, where would that confidence take you?
Now you know that light is in there I just want you to take some time to notice it and watch as it grows and then I’d love to hear what that inner confidence is making you want to try.
