Building Your Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is believing in yourself. It doesn’t mean believing you can do anything and everything because you can’t. We hear that all the time, that we can be anything we want. That simply is not true. Each of us has certain gifts and talents; we do not have every gift and talent. It is our responsibility to discover what is in us and find ways to use those good gifts to enhance our lives and careers.

We build confidence primarily by doing things we do well, things that are considered our strengths. Over time, and as we use reflection, common sense, feedback from others, and learning from our experiences, we will begin to understand the directions that will work best for us.

Crucial in the process of building our confidence is the need for the right opportunities. It is through opportunities that we have the chance to learn as we move towards our desired directions. All the self-talk, motivation, and positive psychology will sound good and help to a degree, but will be of limited help without opportunities. How and where do we find the right opportunities?

A great place to find excellent opportunities is in some type of  volunteer organization. Not only are they great opportunities, but they also look good on your resume. If you’re between jobs, think about places where you might be able to pick up one or two of the skills you need. It may not be a long-term position, but if it serves your purpose, do it. Unlock your creativity and don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never tried before.

Don’t be surprised when obstacles enter the picture. Approach obstacles as skill-builders and consider your best options. Obstacles are often fearful when we lack the right information. So when facing them, think about what you need to overcome the obstacle, and don’t forget to  look for people who can give you input or ideas. Remember, nothing is impossible. Think it. Believe it.

Research shows that most effective executives say that challenges were the best tools to build knowledge and confidence. That means that opportunities will come disguised as problems, so use them learning opportunities. Never be afraid to think outside the box.