BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

SECRETS TO SUCCEEDING AGAINST ALL ODDS

Photo by Ran Berkovich on Unsplash

DYNAMITE COMES IN SMALL PACKAGES

Sean Stephenson was born with brittle bone disease. Doctors warned his parents that he would die soon after birth. But he lived till age 40.

He was a mere 91cm in height. He did not let his condition nor his appearance hold him back. He became a motivational speaker, qualified and practiced as a therapist, and authored two books during his lifetime.

AGE AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A NUMBER

Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame, created his first hit comic when he was in his late thirties. Actor Samuel L Jackson, made his big break into Hollywood when he was in his forties. Tina Turner’s solo debut as an artist was at 44, when she broke onto the scene with What’s Love Got to Do With It.

We all have our particular challenges in life. What’s sets us apart from others is the opinion we have of ourselves and the strength of our self belief.

Having a strong sense of self belief provides the determination to succeed against all odds.

Merely advocating self belief doesn’t really convince someone to start believing in themselves. It takes practice and training.

In order to instill self-belief, there must be continuous positive reinforcing and visualization. At the same time, one has to rid oneself of all negative influences and beliefs, in order to build self confidence.

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE GOOD ENOUGH

Remove the phrase “I can’t” from your vocabulary. Never ever believe that you’re not good enough or not smart enough to achieve anything.

“Oh, I don’t have a degree!”. “I don’t have experience”. “I’m too old!”.

Sean Stephenson, Tina Turner, Samuel L Jackson and Stan Lee. They were determined to make it in life, despite their individual circumstances or their age.

You cannot let your personal circumstances hold you back from seeking out your true destiny.

HANG OUT WITH THOSE WHO HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF KILLING SELF-DOUBT

Hang out with people who are positive and who see you for who you are. These are people who respect you for your skill and talent and your personality. Keep them close to you cos they are the ones who believe in you. Hang out with those who have self esteem and confidence, and who have those qualities you aspire to have.

Hang out with people who have learnt to kill self-doubt. And by that I mean stay away from those who feed fuel to the fire of self-doubt. Stay away from those who always have something negative to say, those who doubt your abilities, and those who constantly complain.

USE THE LEMONS TO MAKE LEMON JUICE

Life throws us lemons, curve-balls, and nasty surprises and we fall to the ground. That’s just the nature of life. But it is life’s challenges which make us stronger and wiser.

We don’t get any stronger or wiser by laying there on the ground moaning and groaning. We get stronger by getting up. We get wiser by realizing why we fell in the first place and taking full responsibility for our situation.

That inner voice of self doubt is a perfectionist. It is always reminding you that you’re not good enough. That you have to be 100% skilled in your field to qualify for that job opening. That you have to be perfect and have to be the best to get anywhere in life.

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

What others think of you should not affect how you think of yourself. You do not need to seek validation from others. Trust yourself, your values, your instincts and your capabilities.

Overcoming self-doubt means that you do not hold back from going after what you desire and deserve. Apply for that job without fearing that you’re not good enough.

Sell that painting of yours or publish that book. You’re not afraid of what others may think of you or your work.

You’re no longer afraid of making a fool of yourself, or messing up.

Don’t listen to that inner voice that keeps planting those seeds of doubt in your mind.

Don’t let others (including that little voice) call the shots in your life. You call the shots and you take the chances and you chart your own destiny.

Give yourself permission to be imperfect. You will never be 100% ready for anything in life.

Now, go put yourself out there like an SOS signal. Somebody is bound to discover you and appreciate you for who you really are.