Making Progress

"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you don't believe it'll work out, you'll see obstacles." ~ Wayne Dyer

 

Overcoming insecurity is not about convincing everyone around you that you have no weaknesses or faults. Just as being brave doesn't mean you're not afraid - it means you do something despite your fear. To become confident in yourself, you must first be self aware. You must know both your strengths and weaknesses, otherwise you'll either be stuck and held back or desend into plain arrogance. 

The first hurdle is to believe that you are capable of reaching your goals. That you can become like those you admire. You go from there. We all fall back into past patterns of disbelief, but with each fall we should get back up - we won't fall so easily the next time.

Step out of your comfort zone. Personally, I used to be terribly timid and greatly looked-up do those who were so effortlessly outspoken and sure in themselves. So I forced myself to talk to those people. It was paralysing at first, the second time too. But the third not so much and so on. Now I'm almost insufferably blunt, which I ought to amend (the chase after improvement is never over) 

Finally, be proud of the steps you make. Growing a tougher skin meant you had to take risks and face your fears - it's your achievement. But don't wait for an external applause from the people around you, because most people will not notice or take into account the work it took to get where you are. That's completely fine. Don't let validation of the masses or lack there of control your direction or progress. Do what it takes to make you happy with who you are becoming. The opinions of anyone, aside from the few people who are close to you, don't have any impact on your life, so don't persuade yourself into thinking they do.

Everyone is at different stages of their development, aswell as having seperate faults and talents. No one is the same. So don't compare yourself to who someone else is. Compare who you are today to who you were yesterday :)

 

Article by Julia Z