Three Ways to Feel More Confident
It's become obvious to me over the years that people who lack confidence can be mean. That may sound harsh, but true confidence starts with loving yourself and if you don't love yourself, how can you love anyone else, much less show kindness. It's a little scary when you think about it. When you have to depend on what other people do in order to be happy yourself, you put unnecessary pressure on others to perform in a way that pleases you. This happens, not only as individuals, but collectively, as a society. We expect other groups of people to behave in a way that pleases us, because we are afraid of their differences. The sad truth is that people who are mean to others, are even meaner to themselves causing a cycle of meanness! Learning to be confident, comes with making a connection with who you really are. My daily mantra is "I begin this day with the wisdom to trust that I am profoundly loved and supported by the Universe, that it's infinite power lives all around me and is the light within me." Anyone who has come to one of my yoga classes has heard that because I end every class with it. When you truly believe that you are filled with the power of the Universe, you gain a sense of loving confidence. My three ways to feel more confident are really one and the same...know that you are part of the power of the Universe...it's inside of all of us!
1. Learn to love yourself more than anything else. This is not selfish, it is the most loving thing you can do for others. I'm not talking about a false egotistical love, I'm talking about loving yourself because that allows you to love others more deeply. I've come to know that when I love who I am, it's irrelevant what others do because it's just not about me. That knowledge has allowed me to forgive.
2. Meditation can help so much with confidence. When you are able to stop thought, or as we say in yoga, stop your monkey mind, and find stillness, you realize that that you are a part of something so huge. The connection to that stillness, is empowering. Intuition, the voice of God or Universe is available to every single person on this earth, no exceptions, and when you realize that you have access to that and are actually a part of it, a sense of peace settles in.
3. Be kind to yourself and take the time to think about what's best for you. It's not easy, after years of conditioning by other people...well meaning parents, teachers, etc., to always exude confidence, but with practice and meditation, it gets easier. Think of the times, when you've had a really crappy day, and you take it out on those around you; it doesn't make you feel better, it makes you feel worse. Hurt people hurt people until they realize that they're hurting themselves. It's always about how you feel about yourself. We are all here to move forward in love, and it starts with self love. That's my definition of evolution.
Keeping a gratitude journal or a journal of positive aspects is something that I have found helpful as is lighting a candle or putting on a cozy sweater for meditation. I'm including a few things below that you might like! My hope in writing this post is that it serves you in a positive way! I hope you all have a great day! Thanks so much for reading!