We Decide We're Confident

People who have confidence give it to themselves.

People are confident because they know they are. It is not something someone makes them or gives them. It’s something they understand that they already are. They don’t have to convince themselves or work at it or fight for it because they own it. Their thinking is as dependable a source of confidence as they decide it to be.  

Decision wields tremendous power because it self-determines; it doesn’t need permission. Sometimes we erroneously believe everything has to line up before we can make a decision. Or, that we need someone to motivate us or give us their permission. Now, for big decisions, we should take multiple factors into account: ones involving other people, organizations or business. Too often, however, we stall while we wait for this elusive alignment or permission to act before we believe in our own power. Give yourself permission to decide to think thoughts that create the confidence you want.

I would argue that our greatest power is our ability to decide and our most powerful (or weakest) decision is what to think. Our thoughts are fundamentally our software.

One of the ways to harness our thinking is to know that it isn’t accidental; it doesn’t have a mind of its own. Whether you realize it or not, you decide every thought you think; they are all born in your head. So, as long as you’re the boss, be the boss; be in charge of selecting them. Gradually, take more charge, eventually taking the reins of the thought-decision process because you are its master. Ask yourself what thoughts you want to think and then, simply think them. Think ones that create confidence especially when you find yourself in a place where you need it.

There’s a quote about how a bird doesn’t need to place trust in the branch; it places trust in its ability to fly. Knowing that we have as much ability to create confidence as we decide, gives us the ability to land on any branch we want.