You can afford to believe in yourself. I mean really, really believe in who you are, deep inside. And, you can learn to come from that place within you. All too often people do not do that. There is an underlying doubt that undermines people’s confidence in themselves.
If the underlying doubt is there, it will manifest and compromise your life in every arena. Life will reflect that doubt back to you as a confirmation, a validation, that such doubt is the truth. Of course, we all have doubts. The trick is to not allow it to overcome the deeper reality, which is that you can believe in yourself. Sure, you will make mistakes. Sure, you will have failures. But those things do not say who you are. Who and what your are is much deeper and more exquisite. It is only when you give in to the doubt that you compromise your life. Believing in, and coming from, that deeper place of inner knowing, that deep inside you are more than just okay, more than just good, is a key to life. Mistakes and failures do not determine who you are. Do not lose yourself to the doubts those things try to tell you about who you are. That deeper place inside is who you are. Stay loyal to it. Believe in it. Maintain your allegiance to it.
I am not speaking of denial here. Lack of self-confidence is often shrouded under the cloak of arrogance and ego. That is just denial. People do not want to admit to their lack of self-confidence, and put on a facade of arrogance. They pretend to be smart, tough, wise, or powerful in an attempt to convince not only others, but also themselves.
Confidence has no need for that sort of denial. Confidence in one’s self has no fear of weakness, foolish mistakes, etc. Confidence knows full well that those things are superficial and can be surmounted by coming from a deeper place inside. Now, for some practical examples:
Some overweight people feel that they can simply not lose weight. Some people feel they can simply not gain muscle. Some people feel they cannot succeed in school or in business. They convince themselves that there is something wrong with their physiology or psyche… or perhaps resign to the idea that it is just ‘their Karma’. More often than not, the problem is lack of confidence. With confidence, we find a way. We do not accept that we are failures. We just realize that we may have failed at something, but it does not define us. We find a way. It is self-confidence that leads. Believe in yourself. Again, that is not denial in the form of arrogance. It is, in fact, a humble commitment to finding a way that is true to and consistent with the Divinity within. That lies far deeper than petty ego. It is not faith either. It is an inner knowing of the nature of life, your life, and all life. Deep inside we are all Divine. Stay loyal to that goodness within. You rest into that place when you do the Surya Ram Meditation. As you awaken to it, you live it more and more.
This does not mean that anyone can succeed at anything. True self-confidence is not that limited. True self-confidence knows that you do not need to succeed at everything to be great. True self-confidence keeps on going until one finds their greatness, and lives it.
To find your greatness, overcome arrogance, overcome petty ego, know that greatness is who you really are, and remain committed to that. It is an exquisite reality of existence that everyone, in their essence, is great, Divine. Regardless of what may occur in life, regardless of what may be reflected back to you through life experiences, stay loyal to that greatness, to that Divinity within. That, in and of itself, is the key to greatness.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Jai Siva Shankara
I shall read and re-read this blog. Very inspiring.
This is wonderful
It’s hard to navigate, but touching into what you’re saying really helps. Thank you!
I teared up the first time I read this. Skepticism, questioning everything and especially my own abilities has been a major part if my life. Then when I found out my Jyotish, I chalked the doubt up to having Rahu in my first house, pretty much the same as blaming your karma.
I felt relief in your encouragement. Thank you once again.
Thank you so much for these sweet words. Perfect timing for what’s going on now in my life. I shouldn’t be but still am so amazed by how aware you are of our struggles and needs, and then say the absolutely right thing we need to hear. Certainly what I needed to hear to help me find my bearings…
I’ve been exploring self-doubt as my base note. It seems like a lot of energy has been expending over the years trying to determine what others expected from me rather than trusting what felt right to me deep inside. And yet, the times when I have trusted myself seemed to work out much better (and much different) than expected. Now I sometimes find myself laughing (later!) when my response has been much different than someone else expected. But my first reaction is still: ” Oh, oh – how did I cause that . . .” when I get a surprised or negative response. Reading this adds the realization that my self-doubt and the self-doubt of another may simply be interacting . . . Thank you again.
Thank you for all these lovely comments.
This is a blog I will read numerous times. Thank you
I can also relate to this subject and these comments. As Lori said I will need to read it more than once.