Secret #1: Self-confidence - (1)

Secret #1: Self-confidence:
"Self-confidence generates passion about your purpose and expands your influence on others."* ~ Dianna Boocher

So what is self-confidence? Is it internally-generated or externally-generated?

Simply put, self-confidence is confidence in yourself.

It is knowing and valuing your abilities, attributes and aspirations. Malcolm Forbes said that "too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." And that is sadly so true especially for women. Too often we seek validation of who we are and what we can do or be from our parents, husbands, children, friends and even from people we meet from time to time. We seem to always be looking for someone to recognise and celebrate us for who we are and what we can or actually do. I believe and have experienced that like Lieb Lazarow said, "who has confidence in himself will gain the confidence of others."

To excel in life, you must be able to truly (and honestly) assess what you are capable of doing, determine what you need to learn or gain to move to the next level and be prepared to take that next step. It's one thing to know what you know but a different ball game to know what you don't know and to know what you need to do to bridge the gap between what you know and what you need to/should know.

Now before we go further, let's make this clear: self-confidence is NOT pride or arrogance. I found an interesting quotation that helps put this in perspective: “self-confidence gives you the freedom to make mistakes and cope with failure without feeling that your world has come to an end or that you are a worthless person.”

Self-confidence is definitely internally-generated, no matter how much confidence others have in you, if you don't have confidence in yourself and/or your abilities you cannot go very far. One of my ILP colleagues has a very interesting signature in her email -
"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~Eleanor Roosevelt"
Take note that a fellow woman said this.

Conversely, I'd like to say, with all care and caution, that "you don't need anyone's consent to feel superior (i.e. self-confident)". This feeling of "superiority" (self-confidence) comes, not from pride, but from a knowledge that you are in a relationship with God Who holds your future and has only good plans in store for you (see Jeremiah 29:11).

With self-confidence, you have one key element to ignite your passion to pursue your purpose in God. As women, especially Christian women, believe in God and believe in ourselves as we strive to be the best we can be and then do the best we can.

Follow Samuel Johnson's advice: "knock the "t" off the "can't"." Step out in self-confidence and pursue your purpose with passion!

We must not forget what the Word says in Philippians 4:13:

"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.]" (Amplified Bible)

Bottom line: Self-confidence is vital in order to "walk on water".

Source:
*page 46 of The Esther Effect by Dianna Booher