Now that everyone is ‘back to normal’, the year has really started, I realize that I have kept my intentions for 2016 very close to the chest. I’ve never been one for annual goal setting, but I do like having a clear intention for the year. This year I have opted for the ‘choose a word’ variant, and my word for the year is…. Confidence!
After the huge change that ‘a significant evolution in my professional life’ triggered (my intention for 2015) – I think that vagueness might be working for me. And ‘confidence’ should be broad enough to fit the bill.
Last year was quite spectacular, to say the least. After dreaming of having my own business for – well forever – and keeping myself from taking the big step equally long, mid 2015 the stars decided to align themselves (thank you stars!) and everything just fell into place: the big yellow road of opportunity stretched before me. There was no conceivable excuse left to not put on my red shoes and start walking. So I said goodbye to being an employee, and a company that I had worked at for almost 8 years, and started up my own business(es).
It has been the nicest, most challenging, interesting and energizing professional experience. Better than I could have possibly imagined. There is just one ‘but’. If the stars had not aligned themselves out of their own free will, I still wouldn’t have had the confidence to take the big leap.
Which also means that I haven’t yet grown the level of confidence one might expect from someone taking the big leap to independence. Sometimes I feel on top of things, and everything flows smoothly – other days I am overwhelmed by imposter & little girl syndrome, and wonder what the hell I’m doing here, pretending to be a company owner.
Fortunately my partner in business & life has unlimited trust in my abilities, and incredible patience with all my insecurities, so he often smoothens my way back to professional sanity. But I feel it’s time to do something about it myself as well.
Confidence for me is inner strength, the believe that whatever happens, I will be able to manage it, somehow. An internal balance, an energy that puts me in the middle of my own life, at any time. It’s to do with taking full responsibility for everything. Keeping your feet on the ground while allowing your head to go into the cloud and back, so creativity can flow into reality.
I don’t intend to become perfect at it (though wouldn’t it be wonderful if that were possible???), but I want to nurture and grow it: read about, experiment with it, get coached on it, and who knows what else will come my way?
And I’m wondering: what have you done to grow your confidence? What has worked for you? What hasn’t? I’m curious to hear, my inbox is wide open!
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As Career Coach & Life Designer I work with dynamic people who feel there is more to life. Who want to reconnect with their essential self & want to invest in the quality of their lives from the inside out. When playing small is no longer an option, I can help you create a life on your own terms, in your own way.
There are no 10 rules for happiness, or 5 tricks to the ideal job. There is only the discovery of who you really are, how you function, and how you can start realizing your full potential, now.
No tick the box exercises, no half measures, no ready-made solutions. Together we create your own individual recipe – with results.
cathy.gemis@live.be – www.nilahnilah.be
Nilah Nilah 