Self-Esteem & Self-Confidence
How many of you confuse self-esteem with self-confidence? I know I have used the words interchangeably many times. Let me take a moment to spell out how I see them as “different”. Self esteem is how we REALLY feel about ourselves in the deepest part of our soul. Do we accept, approve and even love ourselves unconditionally? Do we believe we are worthy of love (from ourselves and others)? And do we deserve the good things in life? Whether we like it or not, most often the quality of our self-esteem is very deeply connected to our “first critics”: our parents. If they unconditionally loved and accepted us, then we probably accept ourselves as well.
But self-confidence comes from another source…or should I say The Source. I love how Sarah Ban Breathnach described self-confidence. “The special elixir that Spirit has prepared to help each of us face and surmount the challenges of life…..an aromatic blending of invigorating essences; attitude, experience, knowledge, wisdom, optimism, and faith.”
If we were fortunate enough to be brought up in a home where our self-esteem was nurtured, then our self-confidence flourished early. If we did not….we work harder at it, but it’s still available to us. Self-confidence usually begins with attitude, optimism and faith. Experience, knowledge, and wisdom add to it a bit later in life. Now it’s true that Self-Confidence can’t be bought at the boutique (DANG!) but I believe it can be borrowed!
When you’re unsure of yourself but life requires you to be otherwise, remember that Ann said you could “borrow” self-confidence from your authentic self. It’s true! Your authentic self knows how amazing you are. And although I’ve used this in a dozen blog posts…your subconscious mind cannot distinguish between what’s real and what’s imaginary. So when you’re lacking in “self-confidence”, call on your authentic self and borrow that moxie that is somewhere inside you. Go ahead and act as if you’re confident and you will become so.
To your self-confidence!
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Well said Ann! I’ve shared it as self-esteem is how we feel on the inside and self-confidence is how we demonstrate it on the outside! These have such an impact in everything we do!!