3 Ways to Regain Confidence

One of the many pitfalls people encounter is getting up when they have been knocked down. During these challenging economic times, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with disappointments, financial struggles, spiraling debt, lack of confidence and security, with no end in sight.

I was in a similar situation several years ago. I had just graduated from high school and was a rising freshmen in college. That summer during a football camp, I had an accident that pretty much ended my football career forever. I was running across the field and stepped into a pot hole. I heard my knee go “snap, crackle, pop.” I tore the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee and needed reconstructive surgery to repair it.

My confidence level plummeted to a big fat zero. At the time, I was living with my grandparents and they were doing the best they could just to make ends meet. I had medical insurance, but it wouldn’t completely cover the cost of surgery, nor the 8 to 10 months of physical therapy needed to rehab my knee.

I played football all my life and had big dreams of becoming a pro. I was devastated. I told my coach that I wanted to “die.” I was 17, entering college with a torn ACL and in my eyes, my future didn’t look bright.

My coach told me I was stupid to say something like that. He told me I needed to find something else that I was truly passionate about which provided me with the same drive, the same focus and enjoyment I gained from playing football. So I went to college without any focus, short on goals and headed nowhere fast.

Eventually, I turned things around. It was a combination of changing my mindset and taking action. Below are some ideas and suggestions that enabled me to turn turmoil into triumph.

Taking 100% Responsibility

First, you have to give up complaining, making excuses and blaming others for the faults, short comings and not having the results you want concerning the events of your life. Regardless of your families financial situation, your education level, the so called bad luck you’ve been handed, or the obstacles in your life that seem insurmountable, you have to take complete responsibility for the results in your life.

Dwelling on events that were negative and emotionally draining, will only attract more events that are negative and emotionally draining. Sure, encountering challenging setbacks or events that could potentially be devastating can be hurtful and take time to get over. But you can’t move forward if you continued to hold onto thoughts that are not taking you closer to your goal.

You have to take 100% responsibility of your life and the results you are experiencing. You have to take control of your situation and be held accountable. Take charge and embrace the power and magnificence that comes with deciding the direction of your life. The challenge to increase your life, to change the outcome and events of your life are completely up to you.

Upgrade Your Mindset

With the unlimited personal development information available via the Internet, it’s easy to retrain your mind by exposing yourself to proven techniques to help you gain focus, purpose, passion and build personal value. By applying this knowledge and techniques, you will become aware of thoughts and habits that teach you how to achieve freedom and abundance. You’ll be able to do what you love, position yourself to make a real contribution to humanity, and experience a life that is extremely rewarding and even leave a legacy.

Personal development requires discipline. It takes focus, determination, and repetition. You were not put here to experience unrelenting strife and struggle. There are numerous mentors, coaches, and professionals that are accomplished at what you want to do and can provide you with the guidance and direction you need. Asking for help can be easy and very rewarding when you connect with someone who has the ability to help. The goal of your existence is to share your talents and gifts with others, to be a beacon of light and love, and experience the joy and magnificence of well being that flows in all things.

Believe in Yourself

“If you are going to be successful in creating the life of your dreams, you have to believe that you are capable of making it happen.” Jack Canfield First and foremost, it is important for you to develop an unshakeable sense of self worth. Life is going to provide you with obstacles, road blocks, fears and considerations that can paralyze you and keep you from moving forward. But these obstacles are not meant to make you stagnate, instead, they are designed to strengthen your faith, empower you to rise to the occasion in the face of adversity, build character and move you closer to your goal.

Somewhere along your road of life, you’ve come to the understanding that you are not worthy of your wants and desires. You’ve put so much time into burying your feelings and emotions that you have lost touch with your inner self. You’ve come to doubt your instinct or gut feeling and rely on the mass way of thinking and doing things. This has really lead you to abandon what is natural.

Believing in yourself is completely under your control. No one can love you more or better than you can and becoming your best friend is paramount. Learn to forgive yourself for mistakes you’ve made and stop dwelling on thoughts and events that do not serve you. The goal is not to be perfect, but accepting and grateful for your faults and great characteristics so you will be accepting and grateful of others.”Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, either way, you are right.” Henry Ford

So if you have experienced the recent loss of a loved one, been fired, downsized, laid off, had a devastating divorce, a catastrophic business failure, been cheated on or have found yourself deeply depressed because of an event, take some time to remember all the accomplishments of your life up to this point. Give yourself credit for what you’ve done and press on to the greater achievements of the future.