Confidence

All too often, we have well-meaning people telling us how we should behave as parents. Inlaws, friends, spouses, mates, our children, the list goes on. Sometimes we allow this to cause confusion in our lives, leaving us lacking in confidence. This week's blog is a look at what confidence is and how you can gain it. Everybody has an area of genius they work from. Your job is to uncover yours and then fulfill it.

Self-confidence, unlike arrogance, comes from only needing your own approval. Start by being yourself, showing up like you are supposed to be here, and knowing that strength and confidence come from within. Acknowledge the things you love about yourself, not just the parts you think need improving. Allow yourself to feel beautiful without needing someone to tell you you are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody, and there is no need to act small. You cannot fail at being yourself.

Have your own back. Know that what others think about you is 100% about them—no need to be offended. Let people judge you. Let them be wrong about you, and don't live in fear. Worry is an indulgent emotion. More importantly, what are you making your worry mean? Be willing to feel your feelings a little (maybe a lot). Trust yourself and know that you can experience and survive any emotion, even failure.

Do the things you are afraid to do, then do them again. Make decisions and honor them. Learn by doing, and if you don't know something, learn by taking action to find out how. Consider creating an accomplishment log. List both the little and big things that you have accomplished, and acknowledge everything you've done that you once hadn't or couldn't do.

Don't compare yourself to others. Stand tall, open your chest, breathe like you mean it. Memorize what courage feels like in your body. Be you. No one in the world can be awesome in the same way as you. You are the perfect parent for your child, and your child is the perfect child for you.