Acceptance is the First Step to Confidence & Meaningful Change

 Can we have an honest conversation? Sometimes you aren’t confident because you need to make some changes. I know that might be tough to hear, but it is important to be willing to look at yourself with a grace-filled heart and be honest about what is killing your confidence.

 Common Confidence Killers:

• Shame- People who are living with shame find it nearly impossible to feel confident. Shame is like a dark cloud that overshadows everything. It makes it feel impossible to overcome and causes depression and withdrawal.

• Comparison- “Comparison is the thief of joy”- Theodore Roosevelt. Comparison robs you of confidence. It reduces your self-esteem and makes you feel like you are not enough or don’t have what it takes, based on what you perceive as inadequate or lacking.

• Jealousy- Like a comparison, jealousy is based on feelings of lack and want. Coveting what someone else has or the assumptions that come from judging someone through the lens of jealousy ruins confidence.

• Body image issues- Being uncomfortable in your skin causes a lack of confidence. Being under or overweight or living with disfigurement can cause a lack of confidence. Regardless of the things that are positive with your physical appearance, focusing on body image issues can destroy confidence.

• Reputation- Some things are regrettable. Sometimes reputations are damaged and along with the reputation, confidence falls. Having a damaged reputation can feel fatal and can take time to recover. But YOU can recover.

If you are wrestling with any of these issues, there’s hope. You can overcome your issue no matter what it is. There are specific steps you can take to move through your brokenness and rebuild your confidence. Here’s how:

 Address the issue- You can’t change what you won’t address. Be honest with yourself and identify the root of the lack of confidence. From body issues to shame, you can’t change what you won’t acknowledge.

Accept the issue- After you address the issues and admit they are there, it’s equally important to accept them as a truth in your life at the moment. This doesn’t mean you intend to internalize and make them a permanent part of your life. Accepting them creates the space you need to make changes and move through the issues.

Seek restoration- Begin to seek whatever it takes to move through to restoration. This may mean therapy, reconciliation, rehabilitation, or retribution. No matter what it takes, be willing to love yourself enough to conquer the issue and restore yourself.

Rebuild your confidence- Once you have come to terms with the issue, made necessary changes and done the work, so-to-speak, it’s time to begin to rebuild your confidence. Take steps you are learning through this challenge to rebuild your confidence.

 You must accept yourself for who and what you are, but you don’t have to stay the same person. If you don’t know where you stand, you can’t start to become confident and you can’t start to make the changes you want to make to be truly confident in your skin. Love yourself enough to be honest and reclaim the confidence you deserve. It starts with following the PATH of Self-Awareness. What words are you saying to yourself?

Just a thought...is a place for me to share lessons from A Pilgrimage to Self Lifestyle Coaching Membership. After many years of uphill climbing, I have learned the power of choice...and I choose to live an Intentional Life on my terms with confidence, beauty, and grace. If you are ready to fill your life with inspiration and joy, follow us on social media: www.facebook.com/ahousewithfourrooms and www.instagram.com/ahousewithfour.rooms and www.twitter.com/housewith4rooms

Until next time...

Cheers!

Lisa