Written by: Jennifer Sharp, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
I grew up with the understanding that I was never good enough, that I wasn’t perfect enough, that I would never mount to anything. These beliefs followed me into adulthood, holding me back from living my life. After all, even if I tried to do anything, I’d surely fail, right?
How did I overcome this? How did I overcome the negative self-belief that was learned from childhood which followed me into my adult life where the negative self-talk wouldn’t switch off?
I would constantly fear failure, but somewhere deep inside, I knew I had to overcome this. I knew that I was worthy of being something more. I discovered over the years how to overcome all these feelings by discovering myself from the inside out. By consciously and intentionally following the four steps below, I discovered who I was. More importantly, I began to like who I was, seeing my self-confidence growing each day. I took the lead in my life. I began to live with purpose.
Awareness. Becoming aware of who you are is just the beginning. Being consciously aware gives you the beginning of clarity, and you can sweep away the dust as you intentionally transform, grow, embrace and accept who you are. Awareness boosts our confidence, inside and out.
Taking Action. The action stems directly from our awareness and the responsibility to make a change along with it. Accepting where we are and taking action to where we want to be is consciously driven. This occurs when acceptance enables us to trust ourselves. We move through self-awareness, to self-acceptance, to action-taking.
Focus. The more I began to focus on myself from the inside, the more I began to prosper on the outside. My mind cleared, focus narrowed, precision set in along with the willpower and self-discipline to succeed. Focus granted me balance in my work and personal life and an “I can do anything” attitude.
Patience. This is something I had to learn above everything else. But I also realized it is the secret key for success regardless of what I am doing. With patience comes the understanding that quick fixes just don’t cut it. How many sportspeople do you know excelled in a week? Patience is needed every step of the way to climb a mountain. Each step creates a new level of understanding who you are, where you can go, who you can be. Each step grants you the understanding that you have the power from within, that you hold the key, and that with focus and intent, and by staying aware of who you are, you will constantly kick that fear monster and all the baggage along with it. You will learn that you are worthy of more and more again.
I still have those fears from time to time, but by asking myself what I fear and why, and by using the four steps above, I can reign in these feelings quickly. By knowing myself from the inside out, I continue to live with confidence, knowing that I am worthy and that I can confidently, without fear of negative consequence, deal with whatever the Universe sends my way.
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” — E.E. Cummings
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Jennifer Sharp, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jennifer Sharp is a leader in the publishing industry, having founded an award-winning publishing press. She has assisted many with telling their success stories globally, whether it be in business or life. She has created coaching and mentoring programs that develop the writer's confidence in themselves and strategies that help them stay confident within themselves in all areas of their lives authentically. She is the founder of Daisy Lane Publishing and Mindset Magic - Confidence Coaching. Jennifer is on a mission to support as many as she can with living their life fully with positive intentions and to assist them with publishing their story along the way. Jennifer is also passionate about children's picture books and poetry, bringing to life stories that deal with trauma, displacement, homelessness, separation, domestic violence, and language learning.
