If you believe in yourself, there is little to stop you from whatever you want to accomplish.

Self-belief gives you the power to push forward and defy the odds. You will be able to handle roadblocks that come your way with more ease, brushing off the naysayers. When you stick to your self-belief, you’ll reap the rewards of  peace of mind.

To keep that self-belief strong, you need to define your goals.

You would not expect a General to fight a war without a map. You too need a map to guide you on how to proceed. Too many people skip this step and wonder why they are not getting anywhere.

Goals are your guidance but carrying through with them is only done when you believe that it is possible. The belief is the energy you need to act. It helps you to focus on getting your tasks complete.

“What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?”

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Build confidence with self-belief.

Believing in yourself is a powerful tool. Others will be attracted to that confidence, follow your lead, and with this,  you will help show them what is possible. When you run into any stumbling blocks (and you will), that confidence will help you see them through. You will know how to take alternative action when necessary and the people following you will respect that as well.

Several forces will try to beat you down or you may feel like you have already been pushed down.  When this happens,  center yourself on why you started your journey. Use affirmations to reinforce your message and be consistent with these affirmations.

Unfortunately, many of the negative forces are going to be from your family and friends. They may see it as helping you avoid mistakes. Many people will succumb to this negative pressure and give up. One way to prevent this is to join groups and surround yourself with  like-minded individuals. It can be related to your business or interests, or it can be groups that focus on self-help. These organizations exist to try to push the negative forces out and offer encouragement. 

Attending these groups can sometimes lead to friendships and potential partnerships  with people.  Having the support of like-minded individuals can be a positive influence on your life and self-belief especially through formed relationships of mutual understanding. 

What can you do today to build your confidence and create a strong sense of self-belief?

1. Define your goals, break them down into a manageable timeline, and start taking action towards them each day. Even if they are baby steps – over the course of a longer period, they amount to growth milestones. 
2. If negativity comes from friends or family, try to set boundaries and be up-front with them about how they make you feel. If you are unable to do this, try to stay away from them at times when you know you are most vulnerable and lacking confidence. Meeting them when you feel strong will bolster your confidence.
3. Surround yourself with positive people by seeking out and joining clubs, networking groups, or activities – these could be local, “real life” meetings or take place virtually online. You’ll find numerous  clubs in your local newspaper or online local guide, or try searching in Meetup.com where you’ll find everything from sports to religion, cooking to dog lovers, networking to public speaking, and everything in between.

I hope you find these inspiring, and they help you find ways to build your self-belief and boost your self-confidence.

Julie Fairhurst
Author, Women Like Me 
Women’s Coach 
Real Estate Agent 

A real estate agent for over 20 years, author of multiple books including her most recent series, Women Like Me and Coach, Julie has been inspiring women for years. Sharing her own entrepreneurial journey, her passion for women’s issues, and drive to help women be the best version of themselves through guidance, support and encouragement, Julie contributes to Shared Stories and our Community on a variety of topics from entrepreneurship to life balance. She resides in beautiful British Columbia, Canada with her husband.