ConfIdence

“Cat got your tongue?” This question is often asked when people expect you to say something but for some reason you don’t. People tend to ask this question with levity because unbeknownst to them there may actually be a reason why you didn’t say anything. That reason may be deeper than you just didn’t know the answer. There may be an intrinsic cause that justified the reason why a 20 toed, retractable claw animal may have gotten your tongue.

To me, the I in confidence stands out. It’s being assured in who I am. Confidence is having faith in yourself. Believing in you and your own capabilities. Are you always confident? I know for sure I’m not…Being in a country where hardly anyone looks like you can do that to you I guess (I live in England but I’m from The Bahamas).

I am almost at the end of my second year and I must say that this was the most trying year of my school experience. From academics to finance and all the likes, this year has truly been a rough one. I wish I could say it was mainly because I was stressed out with the heavy work load of second year (European Union law is no walk in the park might I add!) but it wasn’t even school work that had me messed up.

Last year I was on fire, confidence on level 100. I took part in various competitions and tried to engage in extra-curricular activities. This year I attempted to do the same but things didn’t quite go as planned. It’s amusing how you can start something with such optimism and high hopes then boom! You crash and burn and nothing goes as planned.

With one month left in second year I’m still trying to figure out where my confidence went. Why did the cat take my tongue? Why am I not speaking up the way that I used to?
I kid you not that I’ll be lucky if I say one word in my seminars even if I know that I know the right answer.

Things just changed this year. I hate to admit it but I allowed people to ruin my confidence. I gave people the opportunity to make me feel less than. It got so bad that I actually felt intimidated. Can you believe it? Me being intimidated by someone??? Unbelievable.

But when I got in their presence I truly had to check myself and remind myself who I was. So how do I feel now? My confidence is still not at the level that it was at before but I’m working on it. It’s hard to not get caught up in the competition of Law school. While I haven’t quite found my rightful place yet I’m trying to stay true to who I am and soon Stella will get alll of her confidence back!

We may not always be confident in our human abilities but it’s imperative that we snap out of this feeling and remind ourselves of who we are. I may not be able to do everything in my own human capacity but I serve a God who can do exceedingly, abundantly above all that I could ever ask or think. So while I feel like I’m 2 steps behind, God has already propelled me 4 steps ahead even before I knew it.

Remind yourself today who you are and repeat these affirmations:
I am a child of God.
I am powerful.
I can do anything I set my mind to.
I will achieve my goals.
I will be successful.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
-Marianne Williamson

For more motivation in building your confidence, check out I’m Proud of You!

Have you ever struggled with confidence? What’s your top tips for being confident?

Let me know in the comments below! xx