Confidence from the inside out is based on having a set of beliefs about yourself that is independent of external influences such as the media, institutions and people’s opinions.
If we base what we think about our worth on externals, we can never feel truly comfortable with ourselves. People can say wonderful things about you one day, and send you scathing words in their attempt to make you feel small the next. However, as Eleanor Roosevelt once said:
“No one can make you feel small without your consent”.
She knew what she was talking about! I found this photo (Courtesy of AP press) of First Lady, Michelle Obama online over the weekend. The caption referred to this photo as her response to the remarks about her wearing “sleeveless dresses” to White House dinners.
Instead of becoming defensive or retreating from the opinions of others in fear, her picture speaks a thousand words. She showed them her strength, and it is more than just about muscular arms! She has internal strength, mind muscle, where it really counts!
You see, you can never please everyone. When you cower to what others say or think about you, you give away your power.
There are those (this is such a common practice) that seek to weaken you, and perhaps feel better about themselves, by belittling you. I am training myself to take the attitude that “what you think about me is none of my business”. In other words, you will become quite powerful when the opinions of others no longer matter to you! – positive or negative, for that matter.
Opinions can change like the weather. Sometimes it is sunny, sometimes stormy. However, we have the power to carry the sunshine within us despite what is going on around us. This is true core confidence. Knowing that your True Self, your spiritual power, lies within, you can stop worrying about what others are doing “without”.
Go ahead; build your mind muscle by turning off negative news and the voices of those negative people around you. You don’t have to (not a good idea for your own energy vibe) judge others, just leave them to live their life and you can go ahead and set your sails in the direction of your dreams. It all starts with a new thought. Start to build your confidence, from the inside out!
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