I have a confession to make…… I worry constantly about what other people think of me!! And it stops me from showing up in a powerful way in my career and my life.
One day I decided enough was enough, I knew I was so capable and so powerful. I just had to believe in myself and my message, stop worrying about what other people think of me and say what I needed to say.
I decided to commit to becoming more visible in my life and in my career and the moment I did things opened up for me in a big way.
Was it scary.. Absolutely
Was I uncomfortable…. At times yes but it wasn’t as bad as I feared in my head
Did I die in the process….. Hell no, I am here talking to you
You see, I always thought that hiding myself and not being visible or speaking up kept me safe. Nobody was looking at me and judging me. There was a downside of course, I was angry at myself all the time. I knew I could have much more of an impact like I desired and deserved if I could just break this habit.
What I didn’t realize, but came to in time was that hiding was keeping me playing small and in my comfort zone and I was NEVER going to achieve my goals and dreams by staying there.
So I started pushing myself out of my comfort zone and saying yes to the things that I knew would push me up in my career. I didn’t think too much about it (so I couldn’t talk myself out of it), I just did it. Shaking like a leaf in some cases but I felt so good after I had done it. I felt proud and I had boosted my confidence in my abilities.
What are you scared of being visible in? Is it talking up in that meeting? Saying no to an extra piece of work because you worry what your boss might think of you? Or maybe it’s presenting in front of a large group of people.
Whatever it is, make a decision to commit to doing one small act everyday that requires courage. All these little acts of courage will add up and give you the confidence in your ability to face the big bold moves.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think”
A A Milne