When we see successful people, we are blown away by how confident they are. They seem so casual when they appear on TV or when they’re addressing a group of people. They seem to know what they’re talking about when they write essays or answer questions in an interview. They carry themselves with ease.
Being a Phenomenal Human Being
Maya Angelou’s poem, “Phenomenal Woman” goes, “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies./I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size/But when I start to tell them,/They think I’m telling lies./I say,/It’s in the reach of my arms,/The span of my hips,/The stride of my step/The curl of my lips./I’m a woman phenomenally,/Phenomenal woman,/That’s me.”
Although Angelou’s poem might only be written for women, the words are applicable to both, men and women. You have to be proud of who you are. Be a phenomenal human being.
Remember That You Are Enough
There are going to be times when you feel like you’re not enough—like you’re not doing enough, you’re not successful enough, you’re not pretty enough or you’re not happy enough. Yes, even being happy can become a source of competition. You have to be able to turn off these negative ideas and go forward with greater confidence.
Fake It Till You Make It
One great way to increase confidence levels is by faking it. Think about what you would do if you were confident. Would you dress better? Walk taller? Write that novel that’s been on your mind for years? Well, then do that. Make a list of things you could do if only you were more confident and then do those things.
Let Go of Your High Standards
Remember that a lack of confidence occurs when you feel like you’re not reaching your imaginary standards. Make a conscious effort to let go of these standards and do what you can.
Julia Cameron, the self-help guru and writer of The Artist’s Way suggests that you should make a list of things you can do, in the moment. Take a pen and make this list. Try to come up with at least 10 things you can do. They don’t have to be amazing things. They just have to be possible.
Sometimes, you’ll find that when you start doing what you can do without any expectation of success, you’ll end up achieving things you hadn’t thought were possible.
