Every spring at our old house we had barn swallows make their (very messy) nests. Still, I loved watching them grow from grotesque, bare-skinned creatures into cute fluffballs with wings and bright yellow lips. I’d watch through the window as they’d stretch their wings to test out the motion for their first flight.
Then–in the blink of an eye, they just did it! They lept from the nest, wings flapping, and landed about 15 feet away. It was all they could manage.
But they did it anyway.
And then they did it again and again. Within hours they could easily fly back to the safety of the nest.
Do you think they were confident the first time?
I sincerely doubt it.
How did they get confident?
By having the courage to act–and act again.
Contrary to popular belief, confidence is a result–not a prerequisite.
It takes guts to go into business for yourself, to write that book, to do things differently from others, to go against the grain, to stand out. And…the more you do it the easier it gets.
Confidence is on the other side of courage.
Courage is a muscle and I’m inviting you to pay attention to yours today.
Think of a time when you were courageous.
- How do you know you were courageous? What sensations do you notice as you think back to that time?
- Where did you feel it in your body? (Heart, chest, legs, belly?)
- How did it feel? (Solid, heavy, light, metallic, fluttery?)
- What other sensations do you notice?
It may have felt scary. I totally get it!
Follow the advice of Eleanor Roosevelt and,
“Do one thing everyday that scares you.”
The more you practice, the more quickly you’ll get accustomed to the discomfort and your confidence will soar–just like that little baby bird.
Join others on their journey to confidence at The Confident Women’s Collective. It’s free, fun, and full of amazing women who care about making a difference in the world.
