By Steve Brunkhors
Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first job interview.
Perhaps you were speaking to a group for the first time. Maybe you
were starting a challenging new career or meeting a special person
for the first time. Your throat became dry and your knees wanted
to shake.
You were about to leave a place of mental and emotional safety.
You were putting your skills on the line and taking a risk. If you
were successful, there could be great reward. However, self-doubt
was trying to discourage you.
Confidence is essential in our lives; without it, we will not
make the first attempt to do what we really want. Confidence allows
us to move forward despite temporary discouragement. So where does
confidence come from, and how can we become and remain confident?
Here are seven actions that will help to develop unshakable confidence.
1. Expand Your Knowledge
Gaining new skills for any endeavor - personal or career - is
the first step toward confidence. Identify key areas where you need
more confidence to be successful. Then expand your knowledge by
taking courses, reading books, and attending learning events. Tele-classes
are enjoyable and convenient for learning and discussing ideas with
a peer group. Continuous learning is essential for maintaining a
high level of confidence.
2. Experience Small Successes
Confidence also comes from experiencing small daily successes.
They are like rewards for putting knowledge into action. They may
not be the final goal. Yet they are important. Even a pat on the
back from a colleague or a compliment for a job well done will boost
a person's level of confidence. Keep track of each small success
you experience. You will begin to feel your confidence grow day
by day.
3. Exercise Passionate Faith
Confident people have faith that the Creator has a special plan
for their lives. They appear to know inherently that when they follow
this plan, they will be successful. If you want to achieve something,
you absolutely must believe that it is possible for you. You must
believe firmly in your potential. A passionate faith will lead you
to find and follow that purpose.
4. Enable Firm Resolve
There will be disappointments and set backs. It is natural to
become discouraged at times. However, disappointments are not the
end of the road if we view them as learning tools.
Faith in your abilities will lead you past discouragement into
a firm resolve. Resolve overcomes obstacles because it displays
patience. Instead of giving up, you will meet challenges by continuing
through difficult times. Keep your mind on your intended outcome,
not on the obstacles. Think of reasons why you can, not reasons
why you cannot.
With time, talents develop and abilities grow. Then you will
get a taste of what is possible -- a measure of success that leads
you forward with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm keeps you fired up to achieve
more of those small daily successes.
5. Enlist Expert Help
Enlist the help of experts in areas where you need more confidence.
Experts can be found though books, articles, videos, seminars, or
via a phone call. A professional coach will help you stay focused
on your objectives and hold you accountable for taking the necessary
actions to complete your plans.
Confidence also attracts more confidence. Experts will support
your plans and offer to help you in tremendous ways if you are enthusiastic
and believe in your goals. Moreover, when you show confidence in
others, they will show confidence in you.
6. Envision Confidence
Envisioning confidence begins to make confidence real in your
experience. Imagine how you will feel and act if you already had
the confidence you need for a specific situation. See yourself in
your mind's eye, acting with courage and conviction. Hold that
picture in your mind, and your vision will start to become real.
7. Expect to be Confident
Expectation is faith in action. Now that you have imagined how
confidence will feel, act as if you were already confident. Move
assuredly and energetically as you go for your goals. You are now
seeing, feeling, and acting in a confident manner. You will achieve
what you expect. Expect to be confident, and you will become confident.
Give yourself time to increase your confidence by using these
actions during the next several months. Get a sheet of paper now
and write down how you will apply each of these actions. They can
make a tremendous difference by allowing you to move more quickly
and assuredly toward your objectives. Today, you can begin developing
an unshakable confidence that will bring you joy and success in
every area of your life.
Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational
author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration,
a popular ezine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets,
and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career
and personal life.