Go Explore. You Are More Confident Than You Think
Hani Al-Qasem
March 17, 2009
"Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings." Samuel Johnson
I can tell the people sitting adjacent from me on the double-decker bus bound for Victoria train station that they had just left a 'motivational' seminar. They were all hyped up, juiced and excited. I can 'see' their bodies radiating with anticipation to apply what they had learned.
My ears perked up when I heard one say to the other, "Tomorrow I shall start the journey of getting to know myself."
"Tomorrow? Why tomorrow? Do it now, man. Tomorrow gives you a sense of procrastinating, remember?" replied the other gently slapping his friend on the back of the head.
"You're right," said the first guy as he brushed his hair into place.
From their earlier exchanges it was clear to me that they were talking about self confidence. The seminar made them realise that for them to build and gain more self confidence within themselves they would have to get to know themselves first.
"Listen, Harry. We have at least 25 minutes before we get to Victoria station. Let's make full use of this and start that list," said the taller, more excited young man.
Out came the pads and pens.
It appeared to me that the list they were referring to was the list of 'know thy self'. They would write what they fear or feel less confident about in one column and in the next they would write what action they can take to face that fear or situation that they feel unconfident in so as to gain confidence and grow stronger from within.
This ritual went on literally until the bus reached Victoria station and everyone got off. Ideas were flowing endlessly from one person to the other.
I followed them into Victoria train station forecourt eager to learn more. I overheard Harry say, "Let's take the slow train home and continue exploring. What do you say?" "Right on," came the response, and off they went, walking briskly raring to go, keen to sit at their seats to continue exploring.
I liked that: Go exploring. That made me think.
I ask you to go explore and find out where you lack self confidence and what you can do to build on it. Go explore, go ahead and face some of these fears, learn from them and grow more confident and stronger. Each experience will make you more self confident, courageous and more relaxed.
Self confidence is the first requisite to many accomplishments. As your self confidence grows, so too will your accomplishments.
So today, after dinner or when the kids have gone to sleep, start a journal in much the same way that the excited youngsters on the bus did. Divide the page into two columns. In one write what you feel unconfident about and in the other the action that you can take to feel confident.
Go exploring. Go one step further. Why not ask your spouse or partner to assist you with this. You might discover a couple of things about yourself that you didn't know existed. When you know yourself more, this alone could give you the added confidence in yourself, in the sense that you are taking the first step to attaining self confidence.
Also the upside to all this is that you might be pleasantly surprised.
You might find that you were more confident in certain areas than you thought you were. Your spouse or partner might say, "Are you kidding? You overflow with confidence when you make your annual work speeches." But you thought you totally lacked self confidence.
Now is that a pleasant surprise, a pleasant confidence booster!
So, go explore. Make that list and be pleasantly surprised, and work on those issues that require your attention.
I can tell the people sitting adjacent from me on the double-decker bus bound for Victoria train station that they had just left a 'motivational' seminar. They were all hyped up, juiced and excited. I can 'see' their bodies radiating with anticipation to apply what they had learned.
My ears perked up when I heard one say to the other, "Tomorrow I shall start the journey of getting to know myself."
"Tomorrow? Why tomorrow? Do it now, man. Tomorrow gives you a sense of procrastinating, remember?" replied the other gently slapping his friend on the back of the head.
"You're right," said the first guy as he brushed his hair into place.
From their earlier exchanges it was clear to me that they were talking about self confidence. The seminar made them realise that for them to build and gain more self confidence within themselves they would have to get to know themselves first.
"Listen, Harry. We have at least 25 minutes before we get to Victoria station. Let's make full use of this and start that list," said the taller, more excited young man.
Out came the pads and pens.
It appeared to me that the list they were referring to was the list of 'know thy self'. They would write what they fear or feel less confident about in one column and in the next they would write what action they can take to face that fear or situation that they feel unconfident in so as to gain confidence and grow stronger from within.
This ritual went on literally until the bus reached Victoria station and everyone got off. Ideas were flowing endlessly from one person to the other.
I followed them into Victoria train station forecourt eager to learn more. I overheard Harry say, "Let's take the slow train home and continue exploring. What do you say?" "Right on," came the response, and off they went, walking briskly raring to go, keen to sit at their seats to continue exploring.
I liked that: Go exploring. That made me think.
I ask you to go explore and find out where you lack self confidence and what you can do to build on it. Go explore, go ahead and face some of these fears, learn from them and grow more confident and stronger. Each experience will make you more self confident, courageous and more relaxed.
Self confidence is the first requisite to many accomplishments. As your self confidence grows, so too will your accomplishments.
So today, after dinner or when the kids have gone to sleep, start a journal in much the same way that the excited youngsters on the bus did. Divide the page into two columns. In one write what you feel unconfident about and in the other the action that you can take to feel confident.
Go exploring. Go one step further. Why not ask your spouse or partner to assist you with this. You might discover a couple of things about yourself that you didn't know existed. When you know yourself more, this alone could give you the added confidence in yourself, in the sense that you are taking the first step to attaining self confidence.
Also the upside to all this is that you might be pleasantly surprised.
You might find that you were more confident in certain areas than you thought you were. Your spouse or partner might say, "Are you kidding? You overflow with confidence when you make your annual work speeches." But you thought you totally lacked self confidence.
Now is that a pleasant surprise, a pleasant confidence booster!
So, go explore. Make that list and be pleasantly surprised, and work on those issues that require your attention.