How To Build A Foundation of Confidence
When I was a little younger I had such little confidence. It seemed so fleeting at times—here one day and gone the next. When confidence is weak like this it is because it is dependent on how we feel on any given day. This isn’t a good foundation for doing big things in life.
Success is built on many things but one of the most critical is a firm base of confidence. Without it, we just don’t have what it takes to rise up and do great things. The smallest of doubts can sink us in the mud.
Here are the three building blocks that can give you a strong foundation of confidence:
Building Block #1: Deserving It
Imagine the feeling that you would have by going into a store and sneaking into an employees-only area. You would feel insecure, right? You would have this extremely vulnerable feeling because you know that you really don’t belong there. The feeling of getting caught might even be a little terrifying.
On the other hand, now imagine yourself being an employee of that store and proudly walking into that room that the general public is restricted from. You have a sense of confidence because you have the right to be there.
Because you are supposed to be there, you have credentials, or credibility. When you have credibility, people respect you and expect you to be there.
You get credibility by going through the process to earn it. You can’t fake your employee badge. As you become respected in the eyes of others your sense of belonging will eliminate all insecurities and build an unsinkable foundation of confidence.
Building Block #2: Preparation
The cornerstone of confidence is preparation. Preparation helps us know that we have done what is necessary to be ready for any turn life gives us. When we are prepared, we are empowered to achieve.
The person who properly studied for their exam, the student driver who practiced prior to the test, or the entrepreneur who diligently worked on their pitch can move forward with confidence.
But when you are simply winging it, your confidence feels paper-thin. There is a sinking feeling inside you that realizes your chance of success isn’t good.
Whatever you are seeking success in, you need a confidence that comes from the effort and proper strategy that you have put in to deserve it.
“Confidence comes from knowing what you’re doing. If you are prepared for something, you usually do it. If not, you usually fall flat on your face.” Tom Landry
Building Block #3: Action
We all have to start somewhere. As toddlers, we would stand up and then fall down. Once we stood that one time, however, we wouldn’t have anything less. We’d go through the process again and again.
As we kept doing this we eventually took a step. Pretty soon we had the confidence to walk across the room. It was fun and we even got encouragement from mom and dad for our adventurous nature. I can almost imagine now the confidence I would have felt in that moment. I may not have been a graceful walker but the future was bright.
There is something about engaging in challenging things that can produce confidence. We begin to see results and even if there are some bumps along the way we are encouraged by gaining progress. If you want a foundation of strong confidence, GET STARTED!
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” Dale Carnegie
Do you have another building block of confidence not listed above? Please comment it below!
Aaron Force is a blogger from Seattle, Washington. He writes to educate others about the nature of an expanded consciousness to evolve humanity. Aaron unexpectedly experienced his own profound awakening and ego transcendence in 2015 and soon understood that the qualities of his own experience (a greater expansion and evolution in his life) could be applied to mankind collectively.