The Confidence Zappers

Even if you are doing what you love, there are little confidence zappers that can stop you in your tracks, make you cringe, and turn on the negative self-chatter. Analyzing what we are doing is supposed to be good for planning and determining what your next step is to keep you on the path to your goals. However, it can also lead us to critiquing what we are doing and feeling awful about where we stand.

Here’s a list of some of the big confidence zappers I’ve seen, as well as some great ways to address them.

1. This is taking too long. I’ll never finish.

Patience is so hard to exercise sometimes, right? When the light at the end of the tunnel is still so far away, don’t worry as much about getting there. Think more about each step you take in that direction. Most importantly: celebrate the small victories! This will make the journey more fun and the reward at the end even sweeter!

2. No one is paying attention to what I’m doing. How can I get ahead?

Do you ever feel like you’re just yelling at the top of your lungs and no one can hear you? Just thinking about it can be disappointing, especially with all the hard work you put in. But remember, it can take a while before people really appreciate your wisdom and your skills. Nothing happens overnight, no matter what you are led to believe. Your work will pay off though, little by little. Nurture the relationships you build early on, and they will only lead to more and more. Cultivate what you want to grow, and it will in time.

3. I only have a couple clients. Clearly no one wants to work with me.

We all start somewhere, and yes, it is usually with just a couple clients. But remember, if you show those clients the best of what you have to offer, word will spread. Two clients can easily turn into 20, 200, or more!

4. Everyone else is making six figures doing this, and I can barely pay the bills.

NOT everyone is making six figures doing what you do. Really. And if this is your ambition, then you can take steps to get there, but again, it takes time!

5. I don’t have the credentials or education to make this work.

Credentials and education aren’t the only thing that make someone’s talents valuable. Remember that experience also speaks volumes in many circles. In fact, people base a lot of decisions on the way someone makes them feel, not just on where they went to school or what certificates hang on their wall. If you can help them solve their problem, then they will want to work with you.

Get around the confidence zappers that stop you just as you reach the turning point where your dream is actually turning into reality.     Don’t let them keep you from achieving your success!