Becoming You: 5 Principles of Confidence to Building a Personal Brand that Attracts Soulmate Opportunities
Is anxiety blocking you from your blessings? Does insecurity keep you paralyzed?
Building up your confidence to launch that business, interview for that job, or present a pitch at that competition to raise capital is essential to becoming the woman you are destined to be.
As a black woman who has struggled with feeling comfortable with her cystic acne skin condition, had to battle chronic social anxiety and struggled with public speaking I get it. Putting your flaws on a pedal stool to be judged is intimidating and scary as hell. You can't even imagine getting on a stage in front of 1,000s of people, turning on your camera to speak LIVE, and promoting your business idea without feeling nauseous. I know because I was once her ... and quite frankly still get anxious about it.
But that anxious feeling is NOT greater than our purpose.
You need a confidence plan to combat the fears that hold us back. You need accountability and support to go from fearful to fearless. You need principles to practice so you can build up your daily confidence.
Every day for the remainder of the year I want you to apply these 5 principles to your life. This is blueprint will give you the keys to building a sustainable personal brand and confidently pursuing every opportunity that is presented to you.
Principle #1 - Desire
In order to build confidence, one must desire that feeling. Desire does not mean craving or wanting, but rather a strong feeling for something that is in reach. For example, if you desire to be a star athlete, then it is possible for you to achieve this goal through training and practice. If you desire success, then you can achieve it by working hard and showing your best work.
You need to have a strong desire for something in order to develop confidence. Desire is the key to success, and indecision creates a lack of confidence. You must believe in yourself and your abilities, and know they will take you far.
Principle # 2 - Discernment
When a woman discerns who she wants to be and the things she wants to do, the world improves. Discernment plays a huge role in our world and for women. When we don’t ask God for discernment, we can easily be influenced by things that don’t bring out our best. Rather than being women who are influenced by things that don’t bring out our best, let’s be women of influence because we are women of discernment! It is then that we will bring the best to our world and bring out the best in our world!
This world needs an army of discerning women to be a big, bright influence in all the dark, dingy places where there is no Light!
False teachers are everywhere. New ones will pop up demanding we believe them. We need to be able to see past their faux sheep wool to see the grey fur of the wolf underneath. Will we have the discernment to do so?
It's discernment that protects you from seeking coaching and counsel from predatory and manipulative business coaches who bully you into their circle. It's a skill that quickly removes you from spaces that attract anxiety and disrupt your peace.
Discernment is a necessary skill to be nurtured in each of us. It’s not only for ourselves so we aren’t drawn away, but to help protect our fellow brothers and sisters so they aren’t led astray either. We should be propelled by a love for the body of believers to expose false teachers for what they are. Our discernment must be driven by truth rather than personal preference; otherwise, it becomes gossip or slander. Even absent proof, we must be willing to call out those who are teaching error or leading people away from God.
Principle # 3 - Discipline
Self-discipline is important to get what you want in life. It’s hard to argue with the fact that the more confident you feel going into an interview the higher your chance of success.
By practicing self-discipline you set yourself up for success because you’re less likely to break commitments to yourself, which builds self-confidence and allows you to take on bigger challenges with ease. For example, if you practice self-discipline in a few areas but not others, it can lead to a variety of problems; first, there’s no doubt that this inconsistency will make it harder for you to achieve your goals because you lack self-confidence when it comes to following through on your commitments.
Second, inconsistency throughout life makes it harder for you to enjoy what results your efforts yield because it feels like nothing ever pays off - or worse there are never any results at all!
When you trust yourself, you honor your word. The quality of your relationships depends on it. Start by keeping commitments to yourself and nurturing your self-trust by practicing micro-acts of self-discipline, like saying no to distractions before they consume you.
Principle # 4 - Determination
Self-determination is the power to act with or without external inducements, to take control of your life, and live it your way. It’s the motivation you feel when you reach a personal goal and can celebrate that victory with others who supported you along the way. It’s also what keeps us going when it feels like we might give up and just stay in bed all day.
When you are looking after your own interests, and putting yourself first, that’s self-determination. Your goal is to be able to make decisions that best suit your needs and desires. It could mean getting a better job, earning more money or simply starting a new fitness regime so that you’re better equipped for life’s challenges.
Principle #5 - Development
Developing your confidence is an action. People often feel less confident about new or potentially difficult situations. Perhaps the most important factor in developing confidence is planning and preparing for the unknown.
If you are applying for a new job, for example, it would be a good idea to prepare for the interview. Plan what you would want to say and think about some of the questions that you may be asked. Practice your answers with friends or colleagues and gain their feedback.
By doing something we have learned a lot about we put theory to practice which develops confidence and adds to learning and comprehension.
Community to Develop Confidence Today
Now I want you to practice these principles every day. Add it to your daily goal list and use it as fuel to go out and get what you deserve from life. The world needs your light and we need you to show up in your glory. If you're seeking community, connection, and coaching join my Mogul in the making: Personal Branding Academy on October 10th.