Why You Should Believe in Yourself

Two friends were out on a boat ride when the sea waters got choppy. A man walked up to them.

“My friend,” he said to the first man, “you look a little off-colour. You must be feeling seasick.”

The man replied, “I think you are absolutely right,” and he was promptly ill.

The man turned to the other friend and made a similar remark.

“You also look a little unwell,” he remarked.

Expecting him to be sick like his friend he was surprised when the man turned around and replied, “Don’t be silly. I’m as seasoned sailor I don’t get sick that easily.”

Society’s Influence

Society has conditioned people to believe everything others say about them. Labels are given to young children who grow up to be adults with little or no self-confidence. Adults are bombarded with adverts which influence what they think, say, and do. It’s the reason why people are constantly seeking validation from others. The end result is insecure members of society, a mêlée of the blind leading the blind.

Each time you agree with and believe a negative comment made about you, you give your power away. If you were to mentally train yourself to see each negative comment as money you are giving away for free, you might be less inclined to agree with each one.

Things That Prevent People from Believing in Themselves

Someone once said that we tend to only believe things which we think are possible. That’s why it’s easier to copy what has already been done. If you believe you are incapable of doing something, or being a certain type of person, that reality will manifest in your life.

Other things which prevent people from believing in themselves are:

1. Lack of experience which leads to lack of confidence.
2. Being overdependent on others for support and their opinions or views.
3. Fear of failure and embarrassment.
4. Not having a compelling vision of the future.
5. Negative self-talk.
6. Failure to question the status quo.

Why You Should Believe in Yourself

Your input determines your outlook. Your outlook determines your output, and your output determines your future. — Zig Ziglar

How you talk to yourself plays a huge role in your belief system. It will determine how you perceive life. This will in turn affect what you do. Your actions are what creates your current life as well as your future.

If you want a better life, a better future for yourself then you should believe in yourself more than you believe what other people say about you. It makes sense because, after all, you are the only person who talks to yourself more than anybody else. You also know yourself better than anybody else.

When you believe in yourself, obstacles don’t become an excuse to give up on yourself. You find the strength, the resolve to push past the pain to reach your goal. That pain can be rejection, sacrifice, failure, isolation or loneliness. As long as you maintain that self-belief, you will reach your goals.

Steps You Can Take Towards Self-belief

1. Spend time alone thinking about your personal desires, relationships, career or business goals, health, financial goals, spirituality, and personal development.
2. Take personality tests to help you understand yourself better.
3. Read books that will help you develop and grow.
4. Align yourself and build relationships with people who share similar thought patterns to what you want to achieve.
5. Write and repeat affirmations that line up with the best version of you.
6. Set high standards for yourself. Never drop them but live in such a way that those who want to be with you will have to match them.
7. Learn from your mistakes so you don’t repeat them.
8. Mentally assign a monetary value to every undeserved negative comment. If you find yourself agreeing with the speaker, mentally deduct the assigned value from your bank account. Check how that makes you feel. Is it worth it?

Finally

When you believe in yourself, it doesn’t matter how much negativity life throws at you. That’s because you won’t stop until you figure out a way to navigate obstacles. After that, it will only be a matter of time before you win.

Believe in yourself.