Building your self-confidence

Two grains were lying side by side on a fertile soil. The first grain said: “I want to grow up! I want to put down roots deep into the ground and sprout from the ground. I dream of blossoming in delicate buds and proclaiming the coming of spring. I want to feel the warm rays of the sun and the cool dew drops on my petals!” This grain grew up and became a beautiful flower.

The second grain, on the other hand, reflected, “I’m afraid. If I put down my roots into the ground, I don’t know what they will face there. If I grow tender stems, they may be damaged by wind. If I grow flowers, they may be plucked up. So I’d rather wait for a safer time.” Thus the second grain was waiting, until the chicken that passed by pecked it. The first seed was sure of itself, was full of hope, and was self-confident while the second was just the opposite.

Self-confidence is the self-awareness of one’s abilities, self-assurance, determination and hope to achieve what one wants in life. Self-confident persons determine the goals and act resolutely to achieve them. George Kannanthanam, in the cover story of this issue, presents Youth As Ambassadors Of Vision. He narrates how the blindfolded were provided physical self-confidence as they were led by the truly blind. It was only symbolic of the self-confidence they achieved from this experience that emboldened them to donate their eyes and become ambassadors of vision, thus bringing about this social revolution in India. This is bringing hope to the millions of visually challenged persons who are waiting to see the world.

Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every aspect of our lives, and so many people struggle to find it. One of the things that hold us back from pursuing our dreams is the fear of failure and the lack of self-confidence to overcome fear. This fear can be overcome by boosting our self-confidence and self-esteem. Dalai Lama articulates, “With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world”.

Here are some tips which may help you build your self-confidence: have the courage to do what you believe to be right, even if others mock you or criticize you for it, be willing to take risks and go the extra mile to achieve the goals you have set and be daring to admit your mistakes and learn from them. To be realistic, make a list of your goals and prioritize them, and identify the possible obstacles and setbacks to be overcome in achieving your goals. Exploring various ways and means to achieve them and your willingness to make the necessary sacrifice will take you a step closer to building your self-confidence.