Confidence tips to get UNSTUCK

Welcome to Quick Confidence! This weekly letter delivers a spritz of stories, tips and simple actions that will build your confidence and your power. Each quick tip bolsters confidence in your body, mind, and relationships so you can lead yourself and others to greatness. 

Are you feeling…stuck? Like you can't make forward momentum? Whether it's a dead-end job, a stubborn habit you want to break, or overcoming a blow to your ego, it can be tough. I know, I’ve been there.

In fact, over the last month, I’ve felt exactly this way. As I share my insights with more people around the world, I love engaging in so many exciting conversations. But on the flip side, growing my reach has come with its share of detractors. You know… those critics who want to “correct” your work or tell you why your message is faulty. 

I won’t lie: it can take the wind right out of my sails. Worse, it can make me hesitate to share my next article or reflection!

Whatever the cause, blockers can be extremely frustrating. We might feel stuck after something happens - then we feel bad about being stuck…and then we feel worse! Our blocks can also creep into other parts of our lives (like our relationships) when we don’t take action. 

But you know what? By taking ownership of your situation you can build forward movement. You can create momentum. And you can Own. Your. Life. 

Try out these techniques next time you’re hitting a plateau or standstill. They will improve your confidence to get “unstuck” physically, mentally, and interpersonally.

Quick Confidence Tips to Move Past Mental Blocks:

1. Embodied: Challenge your body to do hard things. I don’t know if you’re conscious of this, but your body listens to everything you say. Do you entrust your body to do hard things? Or do you limit what you can physically do, focusing on lack? Well, this is your sign to start challenging your body more! Maybe it’s a 20-day planking challenge. Maybe it’s a charity walk you want to sign up for. Maybe it’s picking up karate classes again to earn that belt. When we presume that we are strong and capable, we give ourselves the chance to set challenging goals – and meet them. So remember, you can spend your life playing small... or you can push your edge and live large. 
2. Interpersonal: Accept that people talk about you behind your back. One of the holy grails of developing confidence is accepting that people (including those you care about) talk about you when you’re not around. Now I’m not referring to people planning a surprise party for you ?? I’m talking about when people complain, gossip, or chatter about your life and decisions. I'm also talking about when people evaluate you. When you expect this to happen, it’s a lot less disappointing. And you know what? It doesn’t have to tarnish your confidence. Keep in mind there will be haters, doubters, and non-believers — and then there will be you, proving them wrong. 
3. Mindset: Decide you are enough. You don’t need another degree, year of work experience or “point on the scoreboard” to move forward and get unstuck. So in those moments when you’re tired of uncertainty and second-guessing yourself, say to yourself, “I am enough.” Then go ahead and repeat it: I AM ENOUGH. You know enough to perform resourcefully and you have enough to accomplish what you need to. Realize that no one is going to initiate self-acceptance for you. Kickstart it yourself by acknowledging that you’ve already cleared the bar.

Remember, we all get into ruts and have mental roadblocks — it’s totally normal! But you don’t have to stay stuck. Use these tips to build your confidence so you can start to move forward. By tapping into your physical, mental, and interpersonal skills you’ll never stay stuck for long. 

As for me, I'm still here. I'm still writing. And I've realized something powerful: detractors make your realize what you stand for. Here's to continuing to show up!

Confidence is not a talent — it’s a skill. If you want to keep honing your confidence skills today, take my LinkedIn Learning course. You’ll learn practical ways to build confidence so you can quiet doubtful inner voices and Make. Your. Presence. Felt. Click here to get the course. As a LinkedIn Learning author, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.