The Confidence Plan

Everyone Can Use More Confidence

Self-confidence is your belief in yourself. It’s freedom from doubting your abilities, talents, gifts and instincts. Increased confidence can benefit you in every realm of your life. Of course, everyone has doubts, at least, occasionally. That’s normal. (If you don’t, maybe you aren’t challenging yourself enough and need to get outside your comfort zone.) Even people who look confident experience doubts, but they’ve learned to move forward anyway. They don’t let doubt hold them back. People with self-efficacy believe they can do things. They see obstacles as challenges to overcome.

Sometimes people who aren’t accustomed to success feel awkward and uncomfortable when they begin to experience it. They subconsciously thwart their chances by reverting to their comfort levels. To avoid that reaction, recognize your success comfort level. Replace uneasy feelings with a new appreciation that bypasses your comfort zone. Give yourself permission to let good things happen to you.

However, no one succeeds all the time. Failing sometimes is normal. Confident people learn from their mistakes and develop as a result. Since everyone has a few...