One aspect of confidence that we don’t often think about is the confidence to make mistakes and still feel okay about yourself.
Well, I did it – something I swore would never happen to me - I sent out a newsletter without taking the time to proofread it and it has four typos – and I’m a proofreader! Well, you teach what you need to learn!
With my thumb in a splint and my wrist in a pressure bandage I raced through getting important information out that I wanted to get into people’s hands quickly. Type, type, clunk, backspace, re-type… type, type, clunk, backspace… you get the picture. Part of my mind was on what I was doing and the other part was listening out for the sound of the phone for more news on my Dad in Australia who has had a bad fall and is in hospital. Still – I had a task to complete, and complete it I would.
None of this is an excuse for rushing and important task. What it is is an example of how easy it is for us to get caught up in what is happening in our lives, and that is all a part of being human. Accepting that we do the best we can in the circumstances we find ourselves in is one aspect of confidence. I really do aspire to excellence, but when I miss the mark I can forgive myself and learn from my mistakes and move on.
It's funny that as I am teaching about confidence my own confidence is being put on the line throughout the whole process! But I'm even more determined than ever to share what I have learnt about confidence - including that great Ancient Chinese Proverb – 'fall down six times, stand up seven'.
I’d encourage you to learn along with me to have the confidence to risk not getting it completely right. Aim high, do the best you can, and recover from setbacks. Being human is fine. Falling flat on your face is fine too as long as you don’t stay down there too long.
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