5 Powerful Ways to Have Faith in Yourself (by Lucy Cooper Spaulding)

A few weeks ago, I was walking home from an event with my very smart and creative friend and marketing expert Nicole Morris. And she said, "It would be really fun if you found some clips from your Soap Opera days where maybe your character said something motivational." 

While that sounded great, it also felt a bit daunting. Well, cut to a special thanks and huge shout out to Aimee Fruge for her brilliant, TV memory mind and her ability to find these Guiding Light scenes, this became a reality. And it turns out, Lucy Cooper Spaulding  (my character) was quite the little, Life Coach. Hmm...does art imitate life or does life imitate art?? LOL 

Lucy had some wise words for Alan Michael and as I watched and relived this scene (below) I felt like I had shared these thoughts or said some of these exact words to clients, friends, and family and now, I want you my Moticise family to hear them to. Because they apply and are so true to each and every one of you!

"You can be anything you want to be, I know you can! Having FAITH in yourself is like a having a commodity, an irresistible commodity. It makes people believe in you so much that they will conspire to do anything to help. And then you can get the right things, and do the right things you know the kind of things that change the world for the better. I know that's what you want to do and I know that's what you will do. I wish for just one minute you could see yourself through my eyes.  You are so smart and so alive and so full of possibilities. You can do it and you can be anything that you want to be!"

I hope you take that message to heart. And If at anytime, you feel that doubt or those nagging limiting beliefs creeping back in, check out these

5 Powerful Ways to Have Faith in Yourself.   

Reframe limiting beliefs -What beliefs are holding you back? If you were a person who had already achieved your goals, what would you believe about yourself? What would you believe about what’s possible? What actions would you take? How is that different than what you are doing now? Try one of those new beliefs on and see what happens!

If you are struggling with, I can’t do it or I’m not good enough, smart, funny, talented, connected, capable, deserving  or anything else enough. Ask yourself, "Is it really true?"  "Are you really so much less capable than others or are you stuck in the belief that it’s possible for other people just not you?" Hmmm…that’s one I see a lot. Amazing the double standards we have: everyone else in the whole wide world has possibility…but not me. That as I like to say in Moticise is a belief to burn…imagine it going up in flames and reframe and replace it with something more accurate…and more helpful!!

Build self-trust – This one is interesting as we often think of others when we look at trust. Yet trusting ourselves is key. And we may not realize how our thoughts, beliefs and actions may be eroding our personal self-trust.

So, take an honest, objective (no judgement- really!) look. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest, how would you rate yourself with these self-trust components:

• Do you do what you say you will do? ( or Do you keep your word?)
• Do you take chances, outside your comfort zone?
• Do you take consistent, aligned action?
• Are you on time?
• Are you honest with others?
• Are you honest with yourself?

Then, for example, if you rate your honesty with others as a 5, ask, "Why are you a 5 instead of a 2?" And if you are 5 "What would need to happen to get yourself to an 8 or 9?" Then go do that;-)

These are hugely important in building faith in oneself. Sometimes we don’t even realize this is an issue, but I can assure you the subconscious thoughts are there and will rear their ugly heads when it comes time to make decisions or step outside your comfort zone.

Do the things that you don’t want to do but deep down inside you know would make a difference. I really believe most of the time we know at least one step we can take towards that thing that we want. I have stifled many impulses and when I finally get around to doing it, I wish I had done it earlier. And I have seen that in so many others as well.

Take a chance. It truly is one of the biggest ways you can develop self-confidence, self-trust and ultimately success in all areas of your life. And if you are having difficulty, get help, accountability or set yourself up in a situation where you are forced to take that action. It’s worth it, I promise!

Compelling why- I have seen this over and over with myself and others. When people really and truly want something, they will move mountains to make it happen. Tapping into that core desire and aligning your energy and actions will truly override doubts and obstacles.

Lucy reminded Alan Michael….you can get things, do things, that will make the world a better place? What is it that you want to do? What lights you up? What inspires you? What’s fun? What is your deeper why?

Celebrate it!!- Acknowledge yourself for each step in the process. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had clients take incredibly inspired action, something they were scared to do but did anyway and then come back the next week and downplay it. Yeah, it wasn’t that big of a deal, or I didn’t do it that well or not much happened. NOOOOOOO—don’t do that!!

Our brains and nervous system like positive, pleasurable, good feelings. In fact, negative thoughts or mean self-talk sets off a threat response. Whenever we do something meaningful, I don’t care how small it is we want to celebrate it, so our brains know and want to do more of that. This will help move us out of fright, flight, freeze and into more acts of courage and eventually that will give us confidence and the faith that we are seeking.