I was trying to think of a good resource to send out to you guys, the way I like to do on a regular basis. But then I thought back to a conversation that I had with a good friend of mine who's in the process of starting her own business. She has a lot of experience in her field, and really rocks at what she does. But with a great opportunity that came her way, she suddenly got the "confidence jitters"--those negative, self-doubting thoughts that we've all felt at one time or another. You know the ones:
- "What if I don't have what it takes to get the job done?"
- "I feel like a fraud! I'm sure they can see right through me..."
- "Maybe I should turn this project down before I screw it up..."
The truth is, it's perfectly normal to feel this way sometimes, as I told my girlfriend. But what we can't do is let those fears get in the way of reaching our goals! And my response to her? "Sometimes, you've got to fake it 'til you make it." Studies have shown that even when we're in a bad mood, just smiling (even if it feels fake at first) can lift your spirits immediately. (I've tried it--it really works!) Our attitudes work the same way--when you act compentent and confident, you become those very things.
So, back to my girlfriend. After we had our chat, she went to work with her new client--and nailed it! They were so impressed with the ideas that she offered, they were practically like, "Where have you been all our lives?!?"
It just goes to show that sometimes, confidence is all it takes even if you're not feeling it at first. Don't let self-doubt and negativity get in the way of your success--you have it coming!
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