We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.
Eleanor Roosevelt
We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.What would we lose as a society if we listened to everything that people told us and accepted their opinions as fact? Here are a few of the things that we would have missed out on:
Thomas Edison was once told that he was too stupid to learn anything and failed 1,000 times to invent the light bulb.
Oprah Winfrey was fired from a job as a reporter because she wasn’t cut out for TV.
The Beatles were told that they were no good and that guitar music was just a passing fad.
Michael Jordan? Cut from his high school basketball team.
What greatness would we have missed out on if these people would have listened to “conventional wisdom”? More importantly what contributions are we missing out on from you?
My belief is that you are better than you think you are. (This after I recently called people losers. See I do have a heart.) Why don’t you think more of yourself? Your beliefs and your ability to recognize what you are great at.
Your limiting beliefs come from past conversations that we have with our parents, teachers, friends, etc. They come from experiences that we have that leave a major impression on us and affect how we do things in the future. These limiting beliefs pop up like Gazoo from the Flinstones, waiting to pounce on our insecurities and call us
dumdums.
Add to your limiting beliefs your inability to recognize what you are great or as we call it on this blog, your Soul Purpose and you have a recipe for a lack of confidence.
Where limiting beliefs tend to affect you on a subconscious level. Recognizing your Soul Purpose is a matter of perspective. You don’t get to see yourself in action from a 30,000 ft viewpoint so it’s difficult to see and appreciate your greatness.
Your Soul Purpose is something that comes so easy to you, it’s like breathing. And there’s the rub. When something comes easy to you, what do you do? You devalue the activity. You say, “If it’s easy for me, it must be easy for everyone.”
What you don’t realize is that there are people who are in awe of your talent and appreciate what you do.
People ask me frequently why they should have a coach. One of the biggest benefits to having a coach is perspective. A coach recognizes when there is a limiting belief that you don’t recognize. A coach also sees the talent that you possess and helps you tap into it and build confidence in that talent.
You have something great to give to this world. Take a look at your limiting beliefs that you have and ask yourself if these stories are based in fact. (You will find that they are not.) Take some time and get some perspective on what you are great at if you aren’t sure. (You will find some things that will surprise you.) You’re better than you think. Now go out and prove it.
Brandon,
Great point here. I know that I underestimate my own abilities and sell myself short, and nearly every business owner I coach does the same. Just being aware that this is happening helps to overcome it, but taking action in the face of fear is the key to growing.
My trick is asking, “What would _________ (someone I really look up to) do?” and then doing that… It helps me never be limited because I always know someone who can do it… me!
Derick
Great tip Derick. That’s a powerful question.