There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anaïs Nin

Monday, May 23, 2011

Building on a New Foundation


Each morning as I get ready for my day, I make an effort to put my best foot forward.  A nice outfit, makeup, hair and just before I leave I take one last look in the mirror to make sure everything is in place.  And in that moment, I feel confident.

But as time wears on, and I am challenged by the events of the day, I forget that before I left the house I was feeling confident.  Maybe someone swore at me because I accidently cut them off in traffic.  Or maybe I got a stern phone call from the school because I forgot yet again to turn in some paperwork for my child.

Maybe I had a fight with my kids, or I forgot to get to the grocery store and we are out of milk, or eggs, or bread.  Or I forgot to pay one of my bills.  Any number of things can happen that can make me feel less than confident.  And the negative thoughts start to creep into my head.  Suddenly I feel insecure. 

But not only do I feel insecure, but I believe I look it.  To my mind, everyone looking at me can see my thoughts, can see when I’m feeling insecure, or nervous, or anxious. But the truth is,  everyone else is still looking at the woman I saw in the mirror in the morning.  Nobody knows my thoughts or how I’m feeling unless I tell them.

So I came up with a plan.  I decided I needed a constant reminder throughout the day that I left the house ready  to tackle whatever came my way.  So I found a picture of myself that I particularly like.  One that says “confident, strong, beautiful”.

And I made it the wallpaper on my cell phone.

Now every time I take a call, or receive a text, I get a quick glimpse of the “me” I am portraying to the world.  And it reminds me that even though I might not be feeling confident, strong or beautiful, the potential is there because I see it in the picture.  

And it makes me smile.

3 comments:

  1. I dont have a photo of me but I've got several quotes that make me feel extremely confidant...one of them is 'fake it to ya feel it'...LOL

    My self confidence comes in waves too...I just wish I could be on a steady even plain...I dont want to be overconfident but at least want to feel...self assured, you know what I mean?

    oh...the battlefield of the mind...a powerful thing.

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  2. I like the quote Jakki! :) and yes the mind is incredibly powerful, i think its time to harness that power for the good!

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  3. Wonderful idea! I love what you have written here because so often it's true that the way we perceive ourselves is NOT how others do!:)

    I remember when I was younger and had to get glasses for the first time, I felt so self conscious going to school with them the first day and told my mom this. She told me that if I act like I love them and think they look great on me, so will everyone else because really people just believe what you tell them so if someone says "Hey, you got glasses!" and I reply "Yeah...I know...they're kind of weird, huh?" they will agree but if I reply"I know! Don't they look great? I love them!" They also will agree and everyone will think wow, Colleen looks great in those new glasses!
    And this mentality is SO true, I have seen it again and again!!:) It's all about confidence.:)

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