Written by: Debbie Gill, Senior Level 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.
Is your life where you want it to be as 2022 comes to an end and a new year approaches? Many people discover they haven’t closed the gap between where they are now and where they want to be, which may be due to a lack of confidence. And confidence is both a contributing factor and the outcome of success.
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” ‒John C. Maxwell
You may be unable to expand your world intellectually, physically, emotionally, or spiritually to the degree you desire. If you find this true, here are five intentions to mull over that can be implemented if you consciously choose to.
Confident people are constantly growing and learning. They are always curious and love to explore new ways to do things, which expands their mindset. People with confidence are avid readers who focus on self-care, making time for meditation and exercise. What is one new way you can commit to learning something new? Will you learn a new skill, a new form of exercise (somatic movement exercises, yoga, strength training), take a class, or read a book on a new topic?
They set and reach goals, large and small. Establishing, working toward, and achieving your goals for work, relationships, leisure time, and every other domain of life will give you a sense of excitement and optimism about your future. Knowing you can accomplish things that are important to you is a powerful confidence tool. You learn to expand those areas of your life that create and strengthen confidence. What is one small goal you can set and achieve before the new year? What larger goal can you set and reach within the next three months?
Confident people pay attention and focus on what’s in front of them. Where your attention goes, energy flows. There are many distractions today, from text messages to emails and phone calls. It’s no wonder you can’t focus on the task at hand. Research shows that your mind is on autopilot 50 percent of the time. Confidence is “trusting yourself,” You can't trust yourself if you’re off in space. What are the goals that you can give attention to and focus on? What values can you use as guides to decide where you will be mindful of?
They listen more than they speak. Confident people listen more than they say because they don’t have anything to prove. They also know that by listening and paying attention to others, they can learn from others and be flexible enough to adapt to their needs and ideas. Instead of seeing interactions as opportunities to prove themselves to others, they focus on the exchange itself because they know it’s a more productive approach to people. Can you take these actions to become an active listener? Can you allow the other person to share their thoughts without interrupting? Can you ask leading questions to provoke a deeper conversation? Can you remain fully present while listening and without thinking about you’re your response will be?
Confident people aren’t afraid to ask for help. They acknowledge that they are not an expert on every subject and have gaps in their knowledge. This understanding allows them to ask for help and see it as a sign of strength. Getting help from others can give you insight into a challenge or provide a new perspective. Can you invite someone who is an expert on a subject you are interested in to have coffee and ask them to explore it with you? Can you reach out to someone who is an acquaintance in the same line of work you know from social media and ask them how they do something you want to do?
If you aren’t happy with your reality in life, you’ll need to change something. It would be best if you become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s the only way to get what you want in life. You can choose something big or small; it doesn’t matter. The pivotal point is that you take that action and make it a habit. If you only choose one category, track your results. You may find the reality you are looking for. I hope you do.
Schedule a complimentary Reclaim Your Confident Self session today.
Debbie Gill, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Debbie Gill is the founder of Go Within Spiritual Coaching and Go Within Yoga. She integrates her knowledge and experience as a spiritual coach and yoga teacher with the wisdom of Caroline Myss, a Medical Intuitive and five-time New York Times bestselling author, Anodea Judith, an expert on the Chakra System, somatic therapy, and yoga, and Lion Goodman, creator of the Clear Beliefs® Process. As a Certified Clear Beliefs® Coach, Debbie can assist you with clearing core beliefs that hold you back from becoming your true self and living your true purpose through the Clear Beliefs Process® (CBP). The CBP is a set of tools and techniques that frees you from past limitations so you can freely choose your beliefs and live an empowered and more fulfilling life. Debbie is the author of, Struck by Lightning: My Journey from the Shadow to the Light, where she chronicles her life’s struggles with her shadow aspects and addictions. The spiritual memoir reflects her emergence from the shadow caused by traumatic wounds to the light where truth brings awareness and healing. A grateful recovering alcoholic since June 6, 2000, she lives the 12-Steps of AA and practices its principles in her daily life and continues her study at CMED with Myss and Judith and Goodman.
