Keys to Building Confidence

In the recipe of transforming your dreams into reality, there are 3 C's that I hold as essential ingredients: Clarity, confidence and courage. And when it comes to my desire for us to claim these ingredients wholeheartedly, I am quite zealous. The good news is all of us DO have confidence, clarity and courage within. Sometimes they just get a little buried and need to be called forth.

Today, I am inviting you to explore one of the big C's..confidence. Where are you currently with your confidence? Is it time for a reclaiming? Below you will find eight questions that are designed to guide you in looking more closely at the process of cultivating confidence.

1. Where is your focus? Are you focusing on your progress, success and possibilities…or your frustrations, doubts and "failures?" Please do not underestimate the impact of choosing a perspective of trust and abundance vs. one of fear and lack. What you focus on grows. And when it comes to nurturing your confidence, your choice can literally be life-altering.

2. How are you with acknowledging and celebrating your growth? Do you have the tendency to gloss over your accomplishments, minimizing their importance or the effort and talent they required? Do you barely pause before jumping ahead to what you think needs to be done next? If so, I urge you to take the time to consciously acknowledge what you are doing AND who you are BEING. Give yourself credit. Reflect on how you would offer praise or congrats to a loved one having your experience..and give yourself that same love and affirmation.

3. How do you speak to and about yourself? A.L. Kitselman said, "The words ‘I am’ are potent - be careful what you hitch them to. The thing you're claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you." Words have power. Thoughts have power. Pure and simple. It is all energy. So be mindful of the energy you are creating. Are your words building you up or tearing you down? Be 100% committed to increasing your awareness and choose empowering language that strengthens your confidence.

4. With whom are you spending the most time? Who are you listening to? And how do their comments impact you? Answering the above questions will reveal much about the level of support you are providing for yourself. Are you surrounding yourself with confident, encouraging, grounded, big thinkers? Or those who choose negativity, fear, pessimism, and small thinking? Have no doubt regarding the difference that your choice makes, in terms of boosting or damaging your confidence.

5. What helps you to FEEL confident? This is all about embodying the energy and spirit of confidence. Trust that there are many avenues for nurturing your sense of confidence. Experiment and see what works for you. Maybe it is wearing certain clothing or accessories, practicing deep breathing or listening to a particular song that ignites your inner fire. For me, I find that even a tiny bit of fun music and dance can create a massive shift in my energy. And wearing a belly dance scarf really works wonders!

6. Are you taking action? When it comes to cultivating confidence, action is a critical piece to the puzzle. Taking action allows you to really see and understand what you are capable of, to experience living into your potential. And "baby steps" can be enormous confidence builders.

7. Can you laugh at yourself? Sometimes, we just need to stop taking ourselves and our situations so seriously. I am serious! Do you ever find yourself building something up in your mind to the point that it feels like a life or death situation? It is a comfort to remember that rarely is this the case! While I am definitely still working on learning to laugh at myself with ease, I am a firm believer in the value of surrendering to this confidence building choice. Look at the big picture, keep things in perspective and enjoy the refreshing experience of laughing instead of stressing. And watch your confidence soar.

8. Are you recognizing and honoring the value of the journey? You are ALREADY enough. Period. You have nothing to "prove." Do you really get this? The stretching you are engaged in is simply about expanding into more and more of who you are meant to be..deepening your fulfillment, sharing your gifts in an even bigger way, honoring the divine within. I request that you commit to practicing heartfelt appreciation for your process of unfolding, not just the outcomes. Furthermore, I strongly encourage you to move forward with the feeling, "All is Well." Embrace the confidence that comes from knowing your Source.