Can You Do With Some More Confidence?

Does this look anything like you:

1. You've been asked by a community you belong to if you could make some cookies for the next social event; you know fully well you have alot on your plate and even if you didn't, making cookies for some full grown adults is the last thing you'd want to spend time doing ;-)
However; contrary to how you feel, given that everybody else is bringing  something, you numbly say yes.

2. You know you really cannot afford to buy that bag, it's not your style anyway and it's way off your budget, but hey all your friends are raving about it and you don't want to be the odd one out so you give in to the pressure and buy the bag.

Self sacrifice is the sacrifice of one's self for the sake of others. Now am not talking about self sacrifice in a noble sense like our military putting themselves out there in defense of our country. Nope! I'm talking about the giving up of your values, identity and beliefs so you can fit into other peoples ideals, expectations or beliefs. As daunting as those few minutes are where you have to find the courage to say no where the norm is to say yes or where you have to find the strength to say "am sorry, I made a mistake " instead of blaming someone else; honoring your values, beliefs and opinion strengthens your belief in yourself, your self worth and authenticity muscles. By making conscious decisions to honour your values, beliefs and opinion you validate yourself and improve your confidence.

When you undermine your opinion and submit to other people's expectations, you send a message to yourself that your decisions don't matter and that your needs are not worth honouring. Over time, this kind of behavior creates a lack of confidence, unworthiness and feelings of "not good enough".

Honouring your opinions, belief, values and conviction one decision at a time is the way to improve your confidence, to live authentically and be happier. Some days may be harder than others, but committing to actively honour your decisions and opinions will see you building the muscles you need towards better confidence. And yes, you may encounter a push back from people who have always known you to act a certain way, or from people who would think "just who do you think you are". But if you're going to find more confidence, more happiness and authenticity, if you're going to find and take your power it starts with saying 'yes' to YOU, it starts by honouring YOU one decision at a time.

I love you so much for taking steps to find your strength and the courage to unveil your stronger self. 

To a more resilient you.


Image courtesy of Tyra Banks. Facebook.com/TyraBanks

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