Always Believe in Yourself

I decided back in April to go off the grid because I was in need of change—change so that I could get unstuck and figure out a way to live the life I imagined for myself. To that end, I got off social media (Facebook and Instagram), joined a coaching program, and tried to absorb as much self-improvement knowledge (books) as I could. Because I also wanted to decrease my screen time, I deleted the Apple Podcast app. As things started to settle, I learned that to believe in yourself you must cut out the noise.

It Isn’t Always What You Think

I joined a group coaching program because so much of the advice out there tells you that you need a community to support you. I’m not disagreeing with that, but I quickly learned that it’s the right community that you need. The more I attended the weekly group calls, the more I realized this wasn’t the community for me. There were too many victims, much of the advice was too abstract to be actionable, and I didn’t feel aligned with the other participants.

But here was the more interesting thing that happened. As the weeks went by, I became more disengaged with the coaching calls. Then a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist—where I expected to get the all-clear—didn’t go as planned. In the face of a mild cardiomyopathy diagnosis, all the noise fell away. I knew exactly what to do. In fact, I had always known what to do. But in order to do just that—what you know you need to do—you need to believe in yourself.

Action is the Key

When I felt stuck, I was always reaching for one more book that would give me the magic sauce to get unstuck. Despite the many self-improvement books and articles that I had read, or the courses I took, I was still eager for one more small nugget of information that would make the difference. The more I read, however, the more I realized that a lot of the information was repetitive—and if you’re paying close attention, many authors in the self-help industry are quoting the same studies and using the same examples.

Understanding that, I realized that reading another book, taking another course, or even participating faithfully in the group coaching calls wasn’t the answer (for me). I needed to take action…because I already knew what I had to do. To change my life (if I really wanted to and focus on what I told myself mattered) means writing without distraction (not streaming a show/movie in the background at the same time). Changing my life means getting out for a run, or to the gym, despite being tired or not feeling like it. For my health to improve, I must stop reaching for the cookie or chip bag. When you believe in yourself, you act in ways that serve you and your dreams.

Believe in Yourself

I get it. It’s tempting to read one more book that ‘tells’ you what you must do to change your life. It offers reassurance that you are on the right path, that you’re taking the necessary steps to succeed. But if you take a moment to reflect on your life—where you were, where you are, and where you’re looking to go—you have the knowledge required to do the next right thing. You must trust and believe in yourself. No one can do the work for you, no one can force you to show up how must show up. It’s all in your hands. Don’t delay. Show up today and get to work.

And I want you to know today that you are loved, you are worth, and you matter. And you don’t need anyone’s permission to be—wholly and unapologetically—who you are.