What makes you feel confident? Is it when you are at your ideal weight, have a certain amount of money in the bank, job title, attractive partner by your side? Why do we need these things to have a positive attitude about our own skills and abilities? Shouldn’t we accept and trust ourselves with confidence and have a sense of control in our lives without these bench marks to make us feel this way.
Who we are is not defined by our body shape, bank account, or status. Throughout our lives these things will all fluctuate. We’ll have seasons of rich and poor, thin and heavy, and many different forms of status that come and go. If we allow ourselves to lose our sense of confidence during our stormy seasons we are allowing our perceptions to control us.
The way we think about ourselves should not change because we are more focused on our weaknesses than our strengths. We all have both! Why do we choose to focus on our weakness over our strengths? Keeping a positive view of yourself allows us the ability to set realistic expectations and goals, communicate assertively, and handle criticism. Don’t we want this for ourselves?
Knowing your value, and acting in a way that conveys this to others, is not the same as arrogance. It’s what we all need to help us through our stormy seasons. Confidence is how we reach our goals and get through our growing periods. Maintaining consistent confidence can change your entire outlook on life and make you feel good regardless of what is going on in your life. Focusing on our strengths and remembering that our worth is defined by so much more that what we may want to change about ourselves can be exactly what we need to change ourselves.
Too often we a allow our perceptions of what we believe others think of us to dictate how we think of ourselves. The way we feel about ourselves greatly influences how we live and interact with others, so pay attention. Ensuring that you always know your worth and what you bring to the table each day will help you live a fuller life. It will outshine your weaknesses as you work through them. It will gain you respect and enhance your relationships. Confidence is the one of greatest gift we can give ourselves.