Photo Credit: Maneula
A quote of unknown origin states that “Confidence is the companion of success”. I couldn’t agree more with the idea of success being a culmination of factors and choices that we take into our own hands. We have the ability to make decisions with confidence and in turn, create powerful change.
In accordance to the ‘Self Fulfilling Prophecy’, outlined by Robert Merton in the 20th century, our futures are possibilities that become probabilities by a person’s conscious (or unconscious) actions. The power of positive thinking encourages positive outcomes. If we believe something to be true about our self and the world around us, whether in our appearance or abilities, it’s going to be an absolute truth for us. It’s therefore important for us to ensure that our ideology of self and our place in the world is positive.
Here are a few positive actions we can follow to encourage the power of belief in ourselves.
Cut Out Doubt
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan) Sometimes deeply entrained limiting beliefs about our abilities manifest themselves from early childhood, or past life experiences. It’s paramount to remember the power of yes. Believing that ‘you can’ is the first step toward achieving your goals.
Power Of Attraction
Attractiveness in this case extends far beyond physical attributes. We can all don a new outfit and feel fleetingly attractive, yet what we should strive for is attractiveness in our self-belief. The beauty lies in a positive image of yourself, believing that you deserve nothing short of the things you most desire. This belief, like a spark, fuels a chain of positive change.
Written Truth
It can be difficult to view yourself objectively. However, there is real power in seeing words upon a page, they somehow ring more true. So why not write a list? It’s important to first take stock of where you are now, to acknowledge your worries or fears. See awareness and self-knowledge as power; try not to judge yourself harshly if you’re not where you want to be. Begin to write down your wants and desires. We shy away from acknowledging our desires for fear of disappointment, yet in writing them down they become tangible; a real achievable goal. Once goals have been clarified in writing and in your mind, you can begin to decide how these become attainable. For example, is that promotion at work made possible by more specialised training?
Perseverance
Don’t be deterred by not seeing instant change. It’s about making positive choice habitual, not a one off. Going to the gym once or twice, feels good initially, but to really see the improvements it needs to become regular practice. The effort then becomes part of our everyday. True change is possible through perseverance, effort and making positivity habitual.
Patience
We shouldn’t be discouraged by life’s hardships. All people who have achieved great things had to first begin somewhere. Perhaps, even where you feel you are now.
Be Kind To Yourself
We are often our own worst enemy, criticising ourselves too harshly. In actual fact, by treating ourselves kindly we create a positive attitude where we are more likely to feel motivated to succeed. If we place limitations on what we can achieve in our minds, it will confine us. Believing in yourself allows for goals to become reality.
Positive life changes begin with believing in yourself and your own abilities. It is in the influence of self-belief that we can achieve powerful change.
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